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■  ■■•■■■■:-. 


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•V-  ** 


,■■■    RETURN     !>-       • 
L-SALT    LA 


M*AT  SALVAGE!  One  of  the  most  important  of 
all  home  front  duties.  Here's  why:  Just  one  pound 
of  waste  kitchen  grease  is  all  it  takes  for  the  gun- 
powder in  120  cartridges  .  .  .  bullets  that  may 
help  save  American  lives.  Conserve  every  spoonful 
of  used  fats.  Your  meat  dealer  will  pay  you  in 
both  cash  and  precious  "red"  stamps.  *  And 
here's  a  friendly  tip!  Prepare  salvage  grease 
quickly,  easily  by  this  method:  Put  scrapings  and 
drippings  into  a  pan,  cover  to  prevent  spattering 
and  place  in  oven  when  you're  baking  or  roast- 
ing (or  over  simmer  top-burner)  and  melt  slow- 
ly, thus  saving  gas  for  vital  war  needs.  Then 
strain  the  "rendered"  fat  into  a  clean  can.  *  Just 
as  easy  as  it  sounds  if  you  cook  with  clean,  con- 
trollable gas  .  .  .  the  economical  fuel  preferred 
by  eight  out  of  ten  western  housewives. 
MOUNTAIN     FUEL     SUPPLY     COMPANY 

Serving  23   Utah  Communities 


/• 


SERVING 


1. 


PATRIOTISM,  POINTS,  PENNIES 
Three  reasons  for  saving 
every  scrap  of  used  fats- 


THE      WEST     •     IN      WAR      AND      PEACE 


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THE  MOST  DRAMATIC  STORIES  EVER  TOLD 


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ouer 


The  flag  always  flies 
in  front  of  the  home 
of  Betsy  Ross,  in 
Philadephia,  Perm.,  for 
in  the  dark  hours  of 
the  fight  for  freedom, 
that  home  was  the  cen- 
ter of  activity  in  creat- 
ing a  symbol  which 
would  unite  all  of  the 
colonists  in  their  great 
struggle.  Since  that 
time,  the  qualities  of 
the  flag  have  increased 
in  their  power  to  in- 
fluence: the  blue  of  the 
field  indicates  the 
strength  of  truth;  white 
signifies  purity  of 
mind;  red  indicates  the 
courage  which  en- 
dures unto  death;  and 
the  stars  are  the  ideals 
which  lend  purpose  to 
patriotism. 

The  cover  is  the 
photographic  work  of 
Martha  E.  Bonham,  re- 
touched by  Charles  E. 
Jacobsen. 


Editors 

Heber  J.  Grant 
John  A.  Widtsoe 

Managing  Editor 

Richard  L.  Evans 

Associate  Editors 

Marba  C.  Josephson 
William  Mulder 

General  Manager 

George  Q.  Morris 

Associate  Manager 
Lucy  G.  Cannon 

Business  Manager 

John  K.  Orton 

National  Advertising 
Representatives 

Francis  M.  Mayo, 
Salt  Lake  City 

Edward  S.  Townsend, 
San  Francisco 

Dougan  and  Bolle, 
Chicago  and 
New  York 

Member,  Audit  Bureau  of 
Circulations 


<27fe 


Improvement  Era 

"  THE  GLORY  OF  GOD  IS  INTELLIGENCE  " 

'imm*  ■  <»  dn  d*/m   m    M  tm  mT  irifT  tM  \rT  m  ,tjj  >  iflinfr  irffflT  irfjn   inW  iffff  tm   m  urtfT  <m    dm  ilffi  ritt  m    m  mm  «M    m\   im  it%M 


JULY,  1944 


VOLUME  47,  NO.  7 


"THE    VOICE     OF     THE    CHURCH" 

Official  Organ  of  the  Priesthood  Quorums,  Mutual  Improvement 

Associations,  Department  of  Education,  Music  Committee,  Ward 

Teachers,  and  Other  Agencies  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 

Latter-day  Saints 


Jke  C^ditor6  J-^a 


r 

A  Family  Temple  Night... Heber  J.  Grant  425 

L^hurch   J~eatu.re5 

Bishop:   What  Is  Your  Sense  of  Values?  

Marvin  O.  Ashton 

United  Order Feramorz  Y.  Fox 

Report  to  the  Field:   Another  Year  of  "Era"  Activity  and 

Success John  K.  Orton  436 

Evidences  and  Reconciliations:  Note  to  June  Question,  and 

LXXXII — Is  the  New  Testament  Translated  Literally? 

John  A.  Widtsoe  445 

The  Church  Moves  On 440      No-Liquor-Tobacco 429,  447 

Priesthood:  Melchizedek 446      Music  Page 454 

Aaronic 448      Genealogy    455 

Ward  Teaching 449     Field  Photos 457,  459 


428 
432 


Special  ^jreaL 


}p 


eatures 


Thou  Hast  Made  Us  to  Incline  to  Thee... .Levi  Edgar  Young  426 

How  Can  I  Quit  Tobacco? L«  Weston  Oaks  429 

Resume  of  Laws  Affecting  Title  to  Utah  Lands 

...HughaNeU  430 

Apostate  Factions,  Following  the  Martyrdom  of  Joseph 

Smith — Part  HI — James  J*  Strang E.  Cecil  McGavin  433 

The  Spoken  Word  from  Temple  Square.. ..Richard  L*  Evans  442 


Exploring  the  Universe,  Frank- 
lin S.  Harris,  Jr 419 

Telefacts 420 

Similarities   Between  America 
-  and    Oceania,    Charles    E. 

Dibble 42 1 

Books   422 

A  Reward  of  Faith,  Albert  L. 

Zobell,  Jr 424 

Weary  Not,  Donald  Bruce 338 

Homing:     Storage  of  Canned 
Goods  ...: 450 


The  Management  of  the  Bad 

Boy,  Mary  S.  Kinney 450 

Handy  Hints  450 

Cook's  Corner,  Josephine  B. 

Nichols 451 

Out  of  the  Junk  Heap,  Peter 

Hunt  ...452 

News  from  the  Camps 453 

Our  Flag,  Christine  Dryburgh  456 
New  Horizons,  Noma  Roberts..458 

Solution  to  June  Puzzle 466 

Index  to  Advertisers 467 

Your  Page  and  Ours 472 


(L*dltorial5 


The  Way  of  Unity William  Mulder  444 

Parental  Opportunity Marba  C.  Josephson  444 

Pioneers — 1944  Style Marba  C.  Josephson  444 


S^*torie$,  \-^oetr< 


t 


Confidence James  P.  Sharp  431 

Success  House Katharine  H.  Taylor  434 

Frontispiece:       The      Shining  Airplane,  Rose  T.  Graham 421 

Words,      Arthur     Wallace  Poetry  Page 439 

Peach 423      To  Think,  J.  Orval  Ellsworth._459 

^^^^^^^■*^^^>.*^-'^-*-*^/i^^^  ****** 
CIRCULATION      FOR       THIS      ISSUE:     92,000 


voneer 


Pi 

*JJa 


THE  month  ©f  July 
holds  a  place  in 
the  hearts  of  all  Latter- 
day  Saints  for  two 
reasons:  first,  the 
Fourth  of  July  recalls 
vividly  that  this  coun- 
try was  dedicated  from 
the  beginning  to  the 
doctrines  of  liberty  and 
justice  for  all;  and 
second,  the  Twenty- 
fourth  of  July  symbol- 
izes the  willingness  of 
a  great  people  to  leave 
all  they  possessed  and 
move  into  a  desolate 
region,  suitable  as  one 
trapper  said  for  rattle- 
snakes and  coyotes, 
and  by  their  unstinted 
effort  make  that  desert 
a  place  of  refuge  for 
those  who  would  wor- 
ship under  the  newly 
restored  Church. 


Executive  and  Editorial 
Offices: 

50  North  Main  Street, 
Salt  Lake  City  1,  Utah. 

Copyright  1944  by  Mu- 
tual Funds,  Inc.,  a  Cor- 
poration of  the  Young 
Men's  Mutual  Improve- 
ment Association  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter-day  Saints.  All 
rights  reserved.  Subscrip- 
tion price,  $2.00  a  year, 
in  advance;  20c  single 
copy. 

Entered  at  the  Post 
Office,  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  as  second-class 
matter.  Acceptance  for 
mailing  at  special  rate  of 
postage  provided  for  in 
section  1103,  Act  of  Oc- 
tober, 1917,  authorized 
July  2,  1918. 

The  Improvement  Era 
is  not  responsible  for  un- 
solicited manuscripts,  but 
welcomes  contributions. 

All  manuscripts  must  be 
accompanied     by    suffi- 
cient postage  for  delivery 
and  return. 


418 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


By  DR.  FRANKLIN  S.  HARRIS,  JR. 


HThe  blackboard  was  invented  by 
-"-  James  Pillans,  famous  Scottish  edu- 
cator and  classical  scholar,  about  1823. 
He  finally  used  a  board  of  beechwood 
stained  with  logwood,  after  several  ex- 
periments, and  his  students  helped  him 
grind  his  chalks  and  mix  them  with 
colors. 


TTantalum,  the  non-corrosive,  strong- 
*  er-than  steel,  blue-white  metal,  has 
found  new  valuable  uses  recently.  With 
a  melting  point  about  5000°  F.,  it  has 
been  used  for  electric  lamp  and  radio 
tube  filaments.  It  is  now  used  in  medi- 
cine, since  it  is  easily  malleable;  it  has 
been  used  for  plates  in  the  skull  and 
plastic  surgery.  Tantalum  has  replaced 
silk  and  catgut  for  sewing  nerves  to- 
gether. Bone  and  tissue  will  grow  over 
tantalum  and  to  it.  A  new  type  of  glass 
using  tantalum  with  tungsten  and 
lanthanum,  with  no  sand,  has  doubled 
the  lens  speed  in  aerial  photography. 

> : 

An  "unsmkable"  lifeboat  has  been 
■**■  designed  and  built  by  Francis  Lowe. 
It  will  right  itself  from  a  99-degree  list. 
The  55-passenger  capacity  boat,  if  held 
completely  under  water,  jumps  to  the 
surface  when  released.  The  drinking 
water  tanks  have  twice  the  amount  car- 
ried in  a  normal  boat. 
4 1 

"RTany  of  the  toys  played  with  in  an- 
■*•■*■  cient  Athens  and  Rome  are  used 
also  for  playthings  today.  Sir  D'ArcyW. 
Thompson  reminds  us  that  the  first  toy 
the  infant  has  is  his  rattle;  sometimes 
anciently  it  was  a  little  jug  with  peb- 
bles in  it.  The  boys  of  old  had  a  top,  a 
ball,  a  drum  or  tambourine,  a  mask  to 
frighten  friends,  and  a  stick  horse. 
Agesilaus,  the  King  of  Sparta,  was 
found  riding  a  stick  horse  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  his  own  small  boys,  and  the 
philosopher  Socrates  wasn't  embar- 
rassed when  similarly  caught.  Every 
little  girl  had  her  own  toys,  especially 
dolls. 


A  bout  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  icebergs 
**  break  off  the  east  coast  of  North 
America  and  Greenland  each  summer. 
The  number  which  reach  the  northern 
shipping  lines  varies  from  a  thousand  to 
just  a  few  for  a  year.  Since  the  forma- 
tion of  the  ice  patrol,  the  course  of 
southern  traveling  icebergs  is  made 
known  to  shipping.  Though  rarely 
reaching  the  shipping  lanes,  great  tabu- 
lar icebergs  from  the  Antarctic  have 
been  observed  one  to  two  hundred  feet 
high  and  fifty  miles  long.  The  North 
Pacific  Ocean  has  no  iceberg  menace. 
(Concluded  on  page  420) 

JULY,  1944 


Should  they  ever  be 
weaned? 


The  thousands  of  babies  who 
are  fed  Irradiated  Sego  Milk — 
should  they  ever  be  weaned? 

Why  should  they  ever  be?  Children,  as 
well  as  babies,  need  safe  milk.  They  need 
uniformly  rich  milk.  And  children  through 
all  their  growing  years  need  more  vitamin 
D  than  ordinary  foods  provide. 

All  these  things  are  provided  for  children 

who  use  Irradiated  Sego  Milk — provided  at 

lower  cost  since  Irradiated  Sego  Milk  costs 
less  generally  than  ordinary  milk 


Segd  Milk  Products  Company 

Originator  of  Evaporated  Milk  in  the 

Intermountain  West 

Plants  in  Richmond,  Utah;  Preston  and  Buhl,  Idaho 


Pie  Crust!  You  Bet! 


Making  delicious  pie  crust  is  child  s 
play!  Just  use  g^me^Sss,  GRHHHMS 
whole  in  your  pie  tin;  or  use 
gfotuy&c*.  crumbs.  They're  chock- 
full  of  flavor  —  the  perfect  com- 
plement to  any  pie!  But  be  sure 
"(ey re  tffauy&c*  GRHHAMS 
ishest  things  in  town! 


419 


The  always-new  gift  of 
Mrs.  J.  G.  McDonald's 
Personal  Selection  Choc- 
olates will  add  to  the  joy 
of  your  Anniversary. 

For  more  than  80  years,  a 
gift  of  Mrs.  J.  G.  Mc- 
Donald's has  been  a  part 
of  many  anniversary  rit- 
uals. So  continue  the 
customs  with  chocolates 
which  truly  are  the  BEST 
of  GOOD  chocolates. 


»••, 


Mrs.  J.G.  McDonald 

Chocolate  Company 

Salt  Lake  City — Owned  and  Operated  by 
Mrs.  J.  G.  McDonald  and  R.  Neal  McDonald    ■ 

420      . 


TE1EFACT 

THE  FOOD  CONSUMPTION  PICTURE  (II)  [  u.  s.-per  civiuan] 

175 
150 


1 


^        ^       ^  3£ 


M£AI       CWCttN  EGOS  DAIRY      SUTTEf 

MtQDUCTS 


MCTOGtAFH  COVOBATtON 


— ■-^■-■~- 


EXPLORING  THE  UNIVERSE 


(Concluded  from  page  419) 

HPhe  appendicitis  death  rate  has  been 
■*•     reduced  to  almost  half  in  the  last 

four  years. 

+_ 

'"Phe  chemists  of  the  duPont  Company 
■*■  have  developed  a  new  chemical 
process  which  makes  wood  extra 
strong,  flame-resistant,  and  warp-proof. 
Poplar  can  be  made  harder  than  maple, 
cottonwood  can  be  treated  so  that  it 
warps  less  than  mahogany.  The  wood 
is  put  in  a  vacuum  to  remove  the  air, 
then  methylolurea  is  drawn  into  the 
chamber  and  the  airless  wood  soaked 
in  a  solution  containing  the  methylo- 
lurea, which  can  include  dyes  if  desired. 
The  chemical  reaction  with  the  wood 
forms  a  hard,  insoluble,  unmeltable 
resin  from  the  surface  into  the  heart  of 
the  wood  at  a  cost  of  about  four  cents 
a  board  foot. 


Tn  the  naiad  stage  of  development, 
*  the  young  dragon-fly  is  jet- 
propelled.  Water  squirted  from  the  gill 
chamber    by    its    powerful    abdominal 


muscles  drives  the  naiad  in  a  series  of 
rapid  spurts  through  the  water. 

*♦ 

HThe  Straits  of  Dover,  as  they  are 
*  called  on  the  English  side  of  the 
Channel,  are  called  by  the  French, 
Straits  of  Calais  (Pas  de  Calais)  from 
the  main  city  on  the  French  side. 

•♦ 

A  TTACKS  of  influenza  were  reduced  by 
■**  two-thirds  by  vaccination  in  men  in 
the  Army  Specialized  Training  Pro- 
gram at  eight  universities  scattered  over 
the  United  States  during  the  winter 
epidemic. 

* 

"\17arning  scents  are  possessed  by  the 

*  *  members  of  the  hymenoptera  or- 
der of  insects,  wasps,  and  their  relatives, 
which  are  enemies  of  spiders.  The 
spider's  reaction  to  the  scents  is  not  only 
to  let  these  insects  alone  but  often  to 
fly  away  in  apparent  panic. 

+ 

{~\nly  about  fifty  woods  are  commer- 
^-*  daily  used  of  the  1,100  varieties  in 
the  United  States. 


TEtlFACT 


RISE  IN  NET  FARM  INCOME 
1939 

1942 


1943 

(EST) 


Each  symbol  represents  one  billion  dollars 


PICTOGRAPH  CORPORATION 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


SIMILARITIES 

between 

AMERICA  and  OCEANIA 

&u  -Dr.  Charlei  <L.  -Dibble 


T\R-  Rivet,  the  French  anthropologist, 
begins  his  discussions  of  Melane- 
sian  influence  in  America  with  the  state- 
ment: 

Melanesian  elements  in  aboriginal  Amer- 
ica are  more  important  and  more  extensive 
than  the  influences  which  derive  from  Aus- 
tralia. 

America  possesses  a  great  number  of 
cultural  elements  in  common  with 
Oceania.  They  include  the  following : 

Blow  gun,  throwing  stick,  sling,  double 
canoe,  similar  decoration  of  the  prow,  tree 
house,  wooden  pillow,  hammock,  musical 
bow,  shell  trumpet,  wooden  tambor,  fish  poi- 
soning, masked  dances,  head  deformation, 
the  blackening  of  the  teeth,  and  the  pre- 
paration of  alcoholic  beverages  by  mastica- 
tion. 

Turning  to  a  linguistic  analysis,  Rivet 
finds  that  the  languages  of  Oceania 
( Melanesia,  Indonasia,  and  Polynesia ) , 
show  traits  in  common  with  the  Hokan 
languages  in  North  America.  (The  Po- 
rno of  California,  the  Yuma  of  Arizona, 
the  Sioux,  and  others.) 


Oceania 

Hokan 

head 

upoko 

epok 

mouth 

haha,  aha 

aha,  ha 

large 

matoi 

mato 

man 

opa 

upa 

ocean 

tasi 

tasi  (water) 

sun 

laa,  la 

alia,  al 

Rivet  concludes  with  bacteriological 
and  medical  evidence  of  the  relationship 
and  reviews  the  problem  of  a  possible 
route  to  America.  He  suggests  a  route 
via  the  Pacific  and  observes: 

For  a  people  who  had  demonstrated  their 
prowess  by  discovering  the  many  islands  of 
the  Pacific,  their  arrival  on  the  American 
coast  would  be  relatively  easy.  In  fact,  it 
would  be  surprising  if  they  had  not  done  so. 


■  ♦ 


AIRPLANE 

By  Rose  Thomas  Graham 

myriads     of     flying -fish     skimming 
ocean's  blue 
Think   the  sky's    a  looking-glass    as   they 
gaze  at  you? 

JULY,  1944 


re 


PIONEERS 


HpHE  first  oil  refinery  in  Utah  was  built  in  1909  by 
Utah  Oil  Refinery  Company  on  V4  acre  of  land, 
leased  from  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad. 

The  first  cracking  unit  to  be  installed  in  a  modern 
refinery  in  Utah  was  built  by  Utah  Oil  Refining 
Company  in  1918. 

The  first  pilot  still  to  condense  oil  from  coal  and 
shale  in  Utah  was  built  by  Utah  Oil  Refining  Com- 
pany in  1915. 

The  first  oil  pipeline  to  cross  the  Rocky  Mountains 
was  built  by  Utah  Oil  Refining  Company  in  1939,  at 
a  cost  of  four  and  one-half  millions  of  dollars.  If 
it  had  not  been  for  this  pipeline  it  would  have  been 
almost  impossible  to  transport  crude  oil  into  this 
territory  during  this  emergency. 

The  first  hi-octane  plant  to  manufacture  hi-octane 
gasoline  in  Utah  was  built  for  Utah  Oil  Refining 
Company  at  a  cost  exceeding  fifteen  millions  of  dol- 
lars. Our  plant  now  covers  135  acres  of  land  in 
Salt  Lake  City. 

AS  A  PIONEER,  WE  SALUTE  OUR 
FELLOW  PIONEERS! 

UTAH  OIL  REFINING  COMPANY 


Pep-88  Gasoline 


Manufacturers  of 
-Vico  Motor  Oils  and  Greases — Hi-Octane  Gasoline 
Products  of  Highest  Quality 


AMERICA'S     FINEST    OVERALL 


LEVI'S 


SINCE   1853 


THERE'S  A  REASON— 
Others  can't  imitate  LEVI'S! 


LEVI  STRAUSS. 


A   NEW   PAIR   FREE 
IF  THEY   RIP 


NON- 


SCRATCH  CONCEALED  COPPER  RIVETS  ON  BACK  POCKETS 


421 


MIA- 
Reading  Course  Books 

1944-45 

Officially    adopted    and    enthusiastically    recommended    are 

these  inspirational  books: 


$2.25 


Executives— "THE  GOSPEL  KINGDOM"  

Writings  of  PRESIDENT  JOHN  TAYLOR 


Special  Interest— "THE  CHURCH  IN  WAR  AND  PEACE"    .$1.00 

By  STEPHEN  L  RICHARDS 

M  Men-Gleaner— "THE  ROBE" $2.75 

By  LLOYD  C.  DOUGLAS 

Junior— "I  WANTED  TO  SEE" $2.00 

By  BORGHILD  DAHL 

Senior  Scout— "FAITH-PROMOTING  STORIES"  $1.00 

Compiled  by  PRESTON  NIBLEY 

Bee  Hive— "TRAVELER'S  CANDLE"  $2.00 

By  FLORENCE  M.  UPDEGRAFF 

Scout— "CANYON  OF  WHISPERS"  $2.00 

By  L.  A.  WADSWORTH 


DESERET  BOOK  COMPANY 

44  East  South  Temple  Street 
Salt  Lake  City  10,  Utah  .  .  .  P.  O.  Box  958 

"THE  BOOK  CENTER  OF  THE  INTERMOUNTAIN  WEST" 


(BodJuu 


THE  CHEMICAL  FRONT 
(William  Haynes.    Alfred  A.  Knopf, 
New  York.   284  pages.   $3.00.)         :       '   ' 

This  is  really  a  popular  presentation  of 
the  recent  progress  of  the  applications 
of  chemistry  in  warfare.  However,  the 
numerous  facts  presented  are  those  now 
generally  used  in  industry,  medicine,  and 
other  human  activities.  Moreover,  it  out- 
lines coming  world  demands  if  the  coming 
will  lead  to  prosperity.  Whether  technical- 
ly trained  or  not,  the  reader  will  be  inter- 
ested in  the  informative,  unusually  well- 
written  chapters  of  this  book.  Explosives, 
smoke  screens,  blood  banks,  drugs,  rubber, 
plant  foods,  plastics,  motor  fuels,  magnesium 
production,  food  dehydration,  and  many 
subjects  between  crowd  the  pages.  It  is  a 
book  for  the  day,  to  keep  us  up  on  the  pro- 
gress of  the  day  in  the  chemical  field — and 
we  are  entering  a  chemical  age. — /.  A.  W. 

THE  WAKE  OF  THE  PRAIRIE 

SCHOONER 

(Irene  D.  Paden.    The  Macmillan  Co. 

514  pages.  $3.00.) 

IF  you  would  go  over  the  pioneer  trails  of 
the  West,  as  if  you  were  one  of  the 
prairie  schooner  companies,  read  this  book. 
You  will  bump  over  the  hills  and  hollows  of 
the  desert,  follow  the  landmarks  of  the 
course,  and  rub  shoulders  with  the  actual 
people  who  made  and  traveled  the  roads, 
and  built  the  West.  With  them  you  will 
face  Indian  massacres,  buffalo  stampedes, 
floods,  sandstorms,  wagon  breakdowns, 
births,  courtships,  weddings,  deaths,  burials, 
quarrels,  and  reconciliations,  and  the  thou- 
sand and  one  events  of  the  pioneer  road. 
The  past  will  come  alive. 

The  book  is  unique  in  structure,  accurate 
in  historical  detail,  and  vivid  in  the  telling 
of  the  westward  march.  It  is  well  done,  of 
informative,  absorbing  interest  for  all.  It 
could  serve  as  a  historical  handbook  for  the 
traveler  between  Missouri  and  California. 

Mrs.  Paden  gained  intimate  knowledge 
of  the  trails  as,  for  nearly  a  decade,  she  ac- 
companied her  husband  over  the  trails,  and 
between  trips  by  examining  the  literature  of 
the  early  West — in  manuscript  or  printed 
form.—/.  A.  W. 

BEFORE  MAKING  IMPORTANT 

DECISIONS 

(Roger  W.  Babson.  J.  B.  Lippincott  Co. 

80  pages.  $1.00.) 

Thoughtful  people  welcome  the  spiritual 
messages  of  Roger  W.  Babson.    Here, 
(Concluded  on  page  456) 


FAULTLESS  FARM  FUNNIES...  goodbye  to  washday  blubs.' 


GRAHAM 
HUNTEK 


NOW  COME. 

So      0 


Ttt'  EOV.KS  f\RE 

usmoFftuULtSS 
St  MICU  for  the 

?  \RST  T\IAE, 
NENGHBOVU 

5K 


Look, mix! -iws 

FM)UV£SS  STf^Ctt 

lAftKES  \RON\NG  so  smooth 
AN9  ep*sw  WE  VOTVT  nesv? 
kTo  BUS  AHS  MORE  \RON\HS 
AWS!! 


V\lHf\T  (K  T\r<\E  S  WV ER 
TH\sr"Autt\.ESSSTPRCH 

\S!  .VJ\TH  \T  \NE  CM* 

MP«E  Y&RfECT  HOT 

STftRCH  \U  BRREVS 

A  MNNUTE  \N\TttOUT 

tboKWG ! 


- — ft 


Ves.wweep! 

NO  T\RESOV\E 
ST\RR\N<3  OMER 
h  HOT  STOVE  THESE, 

NNARtA  WtfS ! 
UOORPtf  EOR 

FftULlLtSS 
ST&RCW' 


& 


No,  J(\CK, —  I  NNCrtVT  SE 
TOO  T\R£V  TOR  THE  V\OV\ES 
TOH\GHT.     VJE'WE  USNHG 

Ff\UU\_tSS  STWRCH 

.ON  WlPSWftSS  NOV* 


Y00H00,w™m\-) 

next  tr\p  to  -rovm  fcfc  5 
SUBE  to  get  r-iT-" 

SOW\E  MORE.    J     1 
OTr  TH\S " 


THERE  MUST  BE 

SoiAETHWG  TO  \T 
OR  SO  TAPitW  ^FO\-VS 
VJOUUWT  BE  SO 

nam  ou  wswpn? 


m? 


Cot«=\PENTmu_N- 
1  UFW  T\N\CE  f\S 
TARNS  EGGS  NOW 
,  YI\TH  SO  WW1CH  GOOP 

cheer  pwounv 

TH'   V\_f\CE! 


"n'lViVi'i'iw^ 


g-^,i5:->1f^.-.-.v 


422 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


StSWMj 


m 


;-**■■'   -;  •-"*:. 


ords 


T. 


hese  are  the 

shining  words 
In  a  world 

grown  dark 
When  sullen  guns 

repeat  old  fears 
In  phrases  stark — 

These  are  the 

noble  words 
That  like  a  flame 
Brighten  the  ages 

with  a  sign, 
A  holy  name — 

These  are  the 
shining  words 

That  call  again: 

Courage  and  faith — 
across  the  world 

To  the  souls  of  men! 


By 

ARTHUR  WALLACE 

PEACH 


— Photograph  by  Marie  Scacheri 


JULY,  1944 


423 


Jl& 


eward  of    PA|T|-| 
By  ALBERT  L.  ZOBELL,  JR. 


Many  of  the  converts  to  Mormon- 
ism,  now  on  a  tiny  steamer  in  the 
mid-Atlantic,  were  seasick  and 
homesick — homesick  with  the  remem- 
brance of  the  good  but  simple  food  that 
was  theirs  in  a  Denmark  of  1869.  The 
memory  of  better  days  in  a  friendly  na- 
tive land  was  especially  strong  to  Cath- 
rine  Henningsen  Hansen  Zobell  as  she 
sipped  again  the  "sour  soup"  which  had 
been  concocted  by  the  ship's  cook.  Al- 
though she  had  a  grown  son  and  two 
daughters  with  her,  that  feeling  grew 
as  they  arrived  at  New  York,  entrained 
for  Chicago,  and  were  said  to  be  the 
first  group  of  Scandinavian  converts  to 
travel  by  rail  right  to  Ogden,  Utah. 

As  they  neared  the  mountains  on  the 
last  portion  of  their  journey,  measles 
broke  out  among  the  children  of  the 
company,  and  two  children  died  on  the 
train. 

The  journey  from  "Tailor's  Switch," 
the  rail  terminus,  to  Salt  Lake  City  was 
a  day-long  excursion  with  fast,  desert- 
worn  horses,  and  soon  the  emigrants, 
and  their  earthly  possessions,  including 
the  measles,  were  deposited  on  the 
Tithing  Yard,  there  to  spend  the  August 
night  with  the  stars  as  a  roof.  The  next 
morning  an  elderly  white-haired  man 
came  with  a  big  basket  of  green  corn 
and  another  basket  filled  with  green 
cucumbers  and  began  to  toss  them  to 
the  emigrants  for  breakfast.  Cathrine 
joined  several  of  her  friends  in  grum- 
bling. Then  her  son,  Hans,  who  was 
well  versed  in  languages,  having  spent 
ten  years  on  the  sea  before  the  gospel 
found  him,  stepped  to  the  brother,  be- 
lieved to  be  an  Elder  McMurray,  and 
said:  "There's  a  nine-year-old  girl  here 
dying  with  the  measles.  I  know.  I  have 
seen  death  come  before." 

The  brother  touched  the  girl  with  his 
hands  and  then  asked:  "Are  you  people 
Latter-day  Saints?" 

"We  are,"  came  the  firm  answer. 

"Then  let  us  form  a  circle  around  the 
sick."  This  was  done,  and  the  brother 
prayed  that  God  would  give  the  child 
life's  strength,  and  promised  her  that 
before  the  sun  went  down  that  day,  she 
would  walk  upon  the  streets  of  the  city. 
This  done,  the  elder  disappeared  from 
among  the  emigrants  to  perform  other 
duties. 

That  was  a  challenge  to  Cathrine  and 
all  the  doubters  in  the  Tithing  Yard. 
They  watched  the  strength  return  to  the 
girl's  body,  slowly  at  first,  and  then  to 
fulfill  that  promise  to  the  very  letter, 
as  the  sun  was  setting  that  night  her 
grandmother  took  her  for  a  little  walk 
up  what  is  now  East  South  Temple. 
*     *     * 

And  my  great-grandmother,  Cathrine, 
and  my  grandfather,  Hans,  and  those 
who  had  witnessed  that  modern-day 
miracle,  covenanted  again  to  support 
the  Church  all  the  days  of  their  lives. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


■J  3 


amiliA   ^Je 


emote 


f 


te    V flqkt 


£5u  l-^redldent  *~Meber  sr.  \irant 


I 


F    YOU    WANT   TO    DO    A    THING,    YOU 
CAN  GENERALLY  FIND  TIME  TO  DO  IT. 


Iast  September  the  First  Presidency  of  the 
Church  asked  the  presidencies  of  stakes  and 
-J  the  Melchizedek  Priesthood  quorums  to  do 
the  endowment  work  for  the  one  hundred  thou- 
sand men  for  whom  the  ordinance  of  baptism  had 
previously  been  performed.  I  am  greatly  pleased 
with  the  interest  that  many  of  the  brethren  have 
taken  and  are  taking  in  this  work. 

All  my  life  I  have  been  interested  in  the  build- 
ing of  temples  and  in  the  work  performed  therein. 
Ever  since  1901  when  I  obtained  a  Grant  record, 
I  have  had  someone  working  along  research  lines, 
and  from  four  to  twenty-four  people  doing  ordi- 
nance work.  It  has  been  suggested  that  the  results 
of  this  activity,  particularly  an  account  of  my 
personal  participation,  would  be  stimulating  to 
the  priesthood  of  the  Church. 

I  have  had  one  of  my  secretaries  look  up  facts 
and  figures  from  my  journal  and  letter  book.  One 
letter  of  December  24,  1 926,  contains  this  item : 

Dear  Brother  Chipman: 

Thursday  morning  I  was  busy  at  my  office  until  ten 
o'clock  with  the  Presidency's  mail.  We  then  went  to 
the  temple  for  the  regular  weekly  meeting  of  the  Presi- 
dency and  Twelve,  following  which  I  went  through  the 
temple  with  the  majority  of  the  apostles  and  their  wives. 
It  being  the  birthday  of  the  Prophet,  we  celebrated  it 
by  doing  temple  work  in  honor  of  the  founder  of  the 
Church. 

It  was  in  January  1928,  that  I  decided  to  have 
a  weekly  "Grant  night"  at  the  temple.  We  had  a 
splendid  response  from  the  following  letter  to 
Bishop  Joseph  Hyrum  Grant. 

My  dearly  beloved  Nephew: 

I  feel  that  I  have  sadly  neglected  my  temple  work. 
We  have  had  about  one  meeting  in  a  year  or  two  of 
the  Grant  Family  Association. 

Yesterday  I  hired  Brother  Brigham  S.  Young  to  de- 
vote his  entire  time  looking  after  genealogy  for  me  first 
and  then  if  he  has  any  spare  time  to  gather  up  informa- 
tion for  a  history  of  my  life. 

I  made  up  my  mind  a  year  ago  that  inasmuch  as  I 
could  find  time  to  play  golf  nearly  an  hour  or  two  that 
I  could  find  time  to  go  to  the  temple  for  at  least  once  a 
week,  and  I  have  no  difficulty  in  arranging  to  go.  I 
don't  have  to  get  there  until  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  before 
six  o'clock  and  I  am  out  before  ten  every  night.  I  have 
sometimes  managed  to  go  to  the  temple  as  often  as 
three  times  a  week,  and  I  feel  that  we  should  try  to 
arrange  for  you  and  your  good  wife  and  for  other 
members  of  the  family  who  are  within  reach  to  also 
go  to  the  temple,  and  that  we  should  be  actively  engaged 
in  this  work. 

I  realize  that  as  I  am  seventy-one  years  and  past, 
unless  we  do  something  in  the  near  future,  I  am  going 


to  pass  on  to  the  other  side  and  meet  my  relatives  who 
have  died  without  a  knowledge  of  the  gospel  and  am 
going  to  be  condemned  for  my  neglect. 

Now  I  would  like  you  to  stir  up  your  brothers  and 
sisters  to  try  to  get  to  the  temple  at  least  once  a  week, 
and  we  will  try  to  make  Thursday  our  special  night  to 
go.  I  have  managed  to  find  time  to  go  to  theaters  and 
amusements  in  the  past  for  years  and  years  without 
going  to  the  temple  once.  If  I  had  spent  the  time  in  the 
Salt  Lake  Temple  that  I  have  spent  at  worthless  shows, 
it  would  have  been  far  better  for  me,  to  say  nothing 
about  the  benefits  that  would  have  accrued  to  those 
who  die  without  a  knowledge  of  the  gospel. 

As  you  always  have  taken  more  interest  than  I  have 
in  temple  work,  I  am  going  to  trust  to  you  to  stir  up 
your  family  to  get  to  the  temple  as  often  as  possible. 

Ever  praying  for  your  welfare,  and  with  assurances 
of  love  and  esteem  for  you  and  all  your  dear  brothers 
and  sisters,  and  asking  that  we  make  a  specialty  of 
temple  work,  which  I  know  will  please  your  dear  mother 
and  father,  I  am,  as  ever, 

Your  affectionate  uncle, 

Heber  J.  Grant 

That  the  work  was  taking  a  strong  hold  on  my 
heart  and  that  of  the  Grant  family  is  shown  by  an 
entry  of  March  6,  1928: 

Hyrum 's  family  are  doing  fine,  going  to  the  temple 
every  Friday.  That  is  the  day  we  have  set  to  go.  We 
had  twenty-three  a  week  ago  last  Friday  and  eighteen 
last  Friday  who  had  endowments  and  then  stayed  after- 
wards and  did  a  lot  of  sealing.  Last  Friday  we  were 
sealed  for  twelve  couples  and  had  sixty-one  children 
adopted.  I  went  through  the  temple  twenty-two  times 
in  January  and  February,  which  is  a  good  record,  and 
I  can  go  away  now  for  a  week  without  feeling  that  I  am 
not  keeping  up  my  record  of  going  twice  a  week,  which 
is  what  I  have  been  trying  to  do  for  the  year  1928. 

I  have  become  very  deeply  interested  myself  in  tem- 
ple work,  and  am  annoyed  that  I  neglected  it  for 
twenty  or  thirty  or  forty  years  when  I  could  just  as 
well  have  done  some  temple  work  during  all  that 
period.  Taking  time  to  play  golf  taught  me  a  lesson 
that  if  you  want  to  do  a  thing  you  can  generally  find 
time  to  do  it.  I  thought  it  would  be  a  hardship  to  go 
once  a  week,  but  we  went  a  little  more  than  once  a 
week  last  year  and  have  decided  to  go  twice  a  week 
this  year,  and  I  have  had  no  trouble  at  all  in  going  more 
than  twice  a  week  while  I  have  been  home. 

From  that  time  until  my  illness  four  years  ago, 
I  endeavored  to  go  to  the  temple  once  a  week. 

Another  excerpt  from  a  letter  of  December  17, 
1934,  indicates  our  participation  as  a  family  in 
this  wonderful  work: 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  you  to  know  that  on  my 
birthday  there  were  fifty  of  the  family — including  some 
of  my  brother's  relatives — sat  down  to  dinner  in  the 

(Concluded  on  page  471 ) 


JULY,  1944 


^Jke  C^dlto^d  fife 


aae 


t 


425 


THOU   HAST  MADE  US  TO 


^rvicilne 


to 


^Jkee 


There  is  a  permanent  reality  called 
religion;  with  spirit  and  form,  with 
word  and  life.  Without  any  extra- 
ordinary effort,  thoughtful  men  and 
women  can  have  it,  and  rejoice  in  it.  It 
is  a  reality  of  the  spirit;  it  is  sanctified 
by  the  body  and  spirit  of  man,  for  both 
the  spirit  and  the  body  constitute  the 
soul  of  man.  This  was  the  teaching  of 
the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith.  Religion  is 
related  to  experience  and  is  something 
that  lies  deeply  in  the  souls  of  men. 
While  it  is  true  that  there  are  today  and 
ever  have  been  many  schools  of  religion, 
we  are  concerned  with  the  true  relation 
of  man  to  God,  and  this  we  have  to  learn 
and  accept  and  employ.  It  is  given  to  us 
as  the  Light,  and  cannot  itself  be 
changed  in  our  hands.  In  our  studies  of 
the  Bible  and  all  other  sacred  books  of 
God,  there  is  a  point — an  eternal  truth 
— at  which,  with  full  consent,  our 
thought  begins.  We  love  the  superb 
tones  of  the  primal  words:  "In  the  be- 
ginning, God."  This  is  the  greatest  of 
all  certainties,  and  is  more  than  knowl- 


edge, for  its  home  is  in  the  deepest  na- 
ture of  man. 

It  has  been  truthfully  said  by  the 
world's  great  thinkers  that  the  words 
found  in  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis  are 
unsurpassed  in  the  literature  of  man. 
Human  history  has  no  words  more 
eventful  than  these: 

In  the  beginning  God  created  the  heavens 
and  the  earth;  .  .  . 

And  God  said,  Let  there  be  light:  and  there 
was  light,  .  .  . 

And  God  created  man  in  his  own  image. 


He  hath  made  every  thing  beautiful  in  his 
time:  also  he  hath  set  the  world  in  their 
heart,  so  that  no  man  can  find  out  the  work 
that  God  maketh  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end.    (Eccl.  3:11.) 

Few  truths  could  be  of  more  service 
in  bringing  man  to  the  right  apprehen- 
sion of  himself,  and  of  his  place  in  the 
universe,  in  quickening  a  high  respect 
and  regard  for  his  splendid  possibilities 
in  character  and  achievement  than  that 


ONE  OF  THE 

OLDEST  BIBLE 

MANUSCRIPTS  IN 

EXISTENCE— 

IN   THE 

SINAI 

MONASTERY 

Photograph  by 

Underwood  6 

Underwood 


& 


426 


which  at  once  declares  and  continually 
asserts  his  relation  to  the  eternal.  Man 
is  in  the  image  of  God,  and  both  his 
body  and  spirit  are  divine.  The 
Greeks  saw  the  beauty  of  the  hu- 
man form  and  they  declared  that  it  was 
related  to  the  gods.  The  eternal  truths 
of  Holy  Writ  demand  of  every  man 
the  recognition  of  the  divinity  of  the 
human  body — for  we  are  more  depend- 
ent on  physical  conditions  for  our  hap- 
piness and  for  our  goodness  than  we 
realize.  Our  lives  take  color  from  our 
state  of  health.  "The  close  connection 
between  mind  and  body  is  a  solemn 
fact."  Health  becomes  a  duty,  and 
every  wilful  disobedience  to  the  laws  of 
health  is  wrong.  The  keenest  brain 
needs  a  foundation  of  health  to  do  its 
best  work.  We  should  therefore  put 
the  whole  treatment  of  the  body  upon 
a  moral  basis.  The  body  should  be 
treated  sacredly  as  an  integral  part  of 
human  nature. 

HPhe  Apostle  Paul  had  been  speaking 
A  to  the  Corinthians  and  admonish- 
ing them  to  remember  that  their  bodies 
were  the  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
then  he  adds:  "Therefore  glorify  God 
in  your  body  and  in  your  spirit  which 
are  God's."  There  is  something  in  man's 
bodily  constitution  that  symbolizes  his 
divine  origin.  The  human  frame  in  its 
delicate  proportions  is  the  most  beauti- 
ful of  all  natural  objects.  There  is  a 
sacredness  to  it,  derived  from  its  asso- 
ciation with  the  spirit,  whose  fit  abode 
it  is,  and  the  physical  body  is  more  pro- 
foundly connected  with  the  invisible 
world  than  is  any  other  thing  in  nature. 
The  revealed  truth  given  to  the  Prophet 
Joseph  Smith  that  the  spirit  and  body 
constitute  the  soul  of  man  finds  ready 
acceptance  by  the  Latter-day  Saints. 

There  is  a  close  connection  between 
the  laws  of  health  and  the  principles  of 
morality.  A  truly  healthy  man  with 
cleanness  of  blood,  a  clear  brain,  and 
healthy  tastes  will  keep  free  from  evils; 
the  body  should  be  treated  sacredly  as 
an  integral  part  of  human  nature.  Every 
act  of  intemperance  of  whatever  sort; 
every  sin  against  the  physical  constitu- 
tion; every  wilful  neglect  of  the  laws 
of  health  and  moral  life  injures  self 
and  prevents  one  from  living  right. 
Herbert  Spencer  in  his  book  on  educa- 
tion says:  "Few  seem  conscious  that 
there  is  such  a  thing  as  physical  morali- 
ty. If  bodily  transgression  is  vicious,  so 
breaches  of  the  laws  of  health  are  physi- 
cal sins."  The  knowing  of  what  is  good 
to  eat  and  drink,  and  living  by  that 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


PRESIDENT 

LEVI  EDGAR  YOUNG 

OF  THE  FIRST  COUNCIL  OF  THE  SEVENTY 


knowledge  brings  about  a  state  of  mind 
and  a  spiritual  glow  which  are  essential 
to  high  living. 

"N^ANY  of  the  Indian  tribes  of  America 
■*■  A  have  a  fine  conception  of  the  im- 
portance of  the  body  and  its  health  and 
strength.  Charles  Eastman,  a  full- 
blooded  Sioux  Indian,  writes  in  his 
book,  The  Soul  of  the  Indian : 

The  moment  that  man  conceived  of  a  per- 
fect body,  supple,  symmetrical,  graceful,  and 
enduring — in  that  moment  he  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  a  moral  life.  There  was  aroused 
in  him  as  a  child,  a  high  ideal  of  manly 
strength  and  beauty,  the  attainment  of 
which  depends  upon  strict  temperance  in 
eating,  together  with  severe  and  persistent 
exercise. 

With  what  beauty  of  word  does  St. 
John  the  Divine  write  of  the  Savior  in 
description  of  his  personality:  "The 
Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
us,  { and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the  glory 
as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,) 
full  of  grace  and  truth."  (John  1:14.) 
The  perfect  body  was  a  part  of  Christ's 
glory. 

Home  Life  in  the  Bible 

Among  the  many  secondary  books 
**  that  will  interest  the  student  of  the 
Holy  Bible  are  Dr.  Neil's  Life  in  the 
Holy  Land  and  Mrs.  A.  T.  Roberson's 
Ministry  of  Women.  They  are  interest- 
ing as  they  give  many  ideas  concerning 
home  life  in  the  Bible.  Marriage  was  a 
sacred  thing  in  ancient  Israel  and  the 
many  descriptions  of  the  love  between 
man  and  wife  become  fine  lessons  for 
the  youth  of  all  time.  Read  how  Isaac 
brought  the  beautiful  Rebekah  into  his 
mother,  Sarah's,  tent  .  .  .  and  he  loved 
her;  and  was  comforted  after  his  moth- 
er's death.  Jacob  and  Rachel  loved  each 
other  with  deep  devotion  for  "Jacob 
served  seven  years  for  Rachel  and  they 
seemed  unto  him  a  few  days  for  the 
love  he  had  for  her."  Mothers  taught 
their  children  the  "ways  of  the  Lord," 
and  we  read  in  Proverbs  31 :28  how 
"Her  children  arise  up,  and  call  her 
blessed."  When  the  law  was  offered  to 
Israel  at  Sinai,  the  women,  according  to 
many  Jewish  writers,  were  the  first  to 
pledge  obedience.  We  know  that  the 
early  expositors  of  the  law  declared 
that  man  and  woman  were  equal  before 
the  statutes.  The  authority  for  this  state- 

JULY,  1944 


I**  o*m 


mnStBsR.'.  ■  

■■■...  ■  .  . 

:  ■-■:-  .,■■■.  ■  ■■..■  ■:-,  •  ...-:.-..  ■■-.■.■.,...-  V  ■■■.,-.■ 


ment  is  derived  from  two  Biblical  pas- 
sages: "Honor  thy  father  and  thy  moth- 
er that  thy  days  may  be  long  upon  the 
land."  (Ex.  20:12.)  A  later  passage  in 
Leviticus  reads:  "Ye  shall  fear  and  rev- 
erence, every  man,  his  mother,  and  his  fa- 
ther." In  the  reversal  of  the  words  "fa- 
ther" and  "mother"  in  this  second  in- 
junction was  to  establish  equality  .  .  . 
neither  the  father  nor  the  mother  was  to 
take  precedence  one  of  the  other.  The 
reason  why  Jewish  life  has  survived  op- 
pression and  persecution  through  the 
ages  is  because  it  has  been  deeply  rooted 
in  law.  The  eminent  scholar,  George 
Foot  Moore,  formerly  professor  of  Se- 
mitics  at  Harvard  University  tells  us  in 
his  Judaisim  in  the  First  Centuries  of  the 
Christian  Era — that  the  "Legal  status  of 
women  under  Jewish  law  compares  to 
its  advantage  with  that  of  contemporary 
civilizations  and  represents  a  develop- 
ment of  the  Biblical  legislation  consist- 
ently favorable  to  woman."  (Vol.  II, 
p.  127.) 

When  the  Jews  settled  in  Rome  after 
the  Roman  conquest  of  Palestine,  Jewish 
women  organized  into  groups  in  the 
Jewish  communities  to  render  aid  to  the 
fatherless  and  those  in  want.  The  de- 
scription of  their  duties  is  found  in  the 
Rabbinic  Code: 

Feed  the  hungry  and  give  the  thirsty  to 
drink. 


A  THRESHING  SCENE  IN  THE  HILLS  OF  GALILEE 
IN  PALESTINE,  THE  WOMEN  WINNOWING 

— Photograph  by  Underwood  &  Underwood 


Clothe  the  naked,  and  shelter  the  home- 
less. 

Visit  the  sick,  bury  the  dead  and  comfort 
the  mourner. 

Support  the  widow  and  instruct  the  fa- 
therless. 

Ransom  the  captive. 

Make  garments  for  the  orphan  and  pro- 
vide for  the  betrothed  maiden. 

Legend  throws  this  code  back  to  the 
first  Hebrew,  Abram,  to  whom  it  was 
revealed  as  a  prevision  of  the  principles 
that  would  underlie  the  law  which  was 
to  be  the  heritage  of  his  posterity.  The 
record  of  this  revelation  in  the  book  of 
Exodus,  according  to  Professor  George 
Foot  Moore,  discloses  the  basis  of  He- 
brew law.  Moses  received  the  law 
direct  from  God,  yet  he  had  to  descend 
to  his  people,  and  present  it  to  them.  In 
the  assembly  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain 
were  men,  women,  and  children.  These 
all  lived  under  the  law,  and  all  pledged 
their  assent,  exclaiming:  "We  hear  and 
we  obey!"  The  commandment  was  rati- 
fied by  the  voice  of  the  people.  Com- 
munity and  home  life  as  described  in 
Exodus  and  Deuteronomy  make  it  plain 
that  children  were  taught  the  principles 
of  Jewish  law.  "Children  are  an  heritage 
of  the  Lord"  says  the  127th  Psalm,  and 
{Continued  on  page  470) 
427 


EiiLo:  WHAT  IS  YOUR 


ip: 


SENSE  OF  VALUES? 


IN  other  words,  bishop,  "do  you  see 
gold  in  them  thar  hills"?  When 
Colonel  Tackling  surveyed  the  sandy 
hills  to  the  west  of  Salt  Lake  City, 
his  sense  of  values  told  him  that 
hidden  therein  were  millions  in  copper. 
It  doesn't  take  much  intelligence, 
when  gold  is  flashed  in  your  face, 
to  realize  that  you  are  beholding  a  pre- 
cious metal,  but  what  is  important  is  to 
discern  value  when  it  is  obscured  or 
hidden.  The  virtues  of  grace  and  beau- 
ty were  hidden  in  the  awkward  clumsy 
personality,  if  you  please,  of  the  Ugly 
Duckling.  Jumbo,  the  elephant,  was 
loved  by  the  millions  of  children  of 
Great  Britain  for  a  generation  or  two. 
He  was  world  renowned  for  his  almost 
unbelievable  dimensions,  but  he  was 
once  the  scrub  of  the  herd.  It  took  a 
P.  T.  Barnum  to  see  this  hidden  value. 
Now  look  at  the  awkward  unsymmetri- 


& 


f 


LJ.  ^tshton 


arvivi 

OF  THE  PRESIDING  BISHOPRIC 


a  specimen  would  make  a  Man  of  War, 
clipping  off  a  mile  in  one  minute  and 
thirty-seven  seconds? 

We  are  still  talking  about  hidden 
values,  but  what  we  want  to  emphasize 
here  are  hot  horses,  swans,  and  ele- 
phants, but  things  decidedly  more  pre- 
cious, boys  and  men.  Yet,  the  above 
comparisons  may  help  us  to  keep  in 
mind  eternally  that  sometimes  a  boy's 
outward  appearance  may  throw  us  off 
the  track  in  appreciating  those  hidden 
values  that  perform  such  miracles.  This 
unkempt,  awkward  product  of  the  fron- 
tier, sprawled  on  the  floor  putting  into 
his  head  every  piece  of  knowledge  and 


of  three  million  of  his  fellows?  Who 
would  have  dreamed  that  that  same  fel- 
low would  some  day  give  a  three-minute 
talk  that  would  be  heard  around  the 
world,  and  every  letter  of  it  be  cut  in 
stone  and  cast  in  bronze,  throughout 
the  civilized  world? 

Bishop,  do  you  see  those  values  un- 
der that  mat  of  unkempt  hair  sticking 
through  the  straw  hat  of  an  American 
boy?  Bishop,  do  you  have  the  discern- 
ment to  see  behind  the  inquisitive  mis- 
chievousness  of  an  Edison  the  world 
light-flooded  with  an  incandescent 
lamp?  Bishop,  it  was  that  kind  of  stuff 
that  gave  you  the  steam  engine,  the  Ben 


MAN  OF  TOMORROW 


—Illustrated  by  Nelson  White 


cal,  unpromising  colt  in  this  picture. 
Bishop,  have  you  noticed  a  young 
thoroughbred — how  all  out  of  propor- 
tion he  appears — long,  awkward-look- 
ing legs  and  over-sized  knee  joints? 
When  you  looked  him  over,  were  you 
impressed  that  in  a  couple  of  years  such 
428 


inspiration  from  the  pages  of  a  book 
read  by  the  flickering  tight  from  the 
open  fireplace — who  would  have  had 
the  audacity  to  prophesy  that  that  same 
piece  of  humanity  in  that  log  cabin 
would  forty  years  later  sign  a  document 
that  would  break  the  chains  of  bondage 


Franklins,  your  Lindberghs,  and  Mac- 
Arthurs.  If  you  see  the  possibilities  of 
that  lad  over  whom  you  preside,  you'll 
love  him  that  much  more — and  if  you 
love  him,  we  don't  worry  about  the  rest 
of  it. 

(Concluded  on  page  466) 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


HOW  CAN  I  QUIT 


Job, 


acco 


? 


By   L   WESTON   OAKS,   M.D. 


Here  are  presented  some  sugges- 
tions for  those  who  would  win 
release  from  tobacco's  hold  upon 
them.  The  measures  set  down  have 
been  gleaned  from  various  sources,  and 
it  is  earnestly  hoped  that  some  of  them 
may  prove  helpful. 

Craving  for  tobacco  is  strictly  an  ac- 
quired thing.  No  one  ever  had  it  natur- 
ally. It  exerts  its  power  over  the  user 
in  two  definite  ways.  Number  one  is 
purely  physical,  and  grows  out  of  ef- 
fects of  nicotine  upon  the  nervous  sys- 
tem, especially.  Any  powerful  sedative 
drug,  when  taken  for  a  time,  is  said  to 
induce  production  of  certain  antibodies 
or  chemical  substances  to  neutralize,  so 
far  as  possible,  ill  effects  of  that  drug. 
Thus  the  body  develops  tolerance  to- 
ward a  poison  and  is  enabled  to  deal 
with  it.  Consequently,  smoking  as  it  is 
continued,  does  not  produce  the  dizzi- 
ness, nausea,  and  general  illness  which 
frequently  arise  from  a  first  experience. 

These  same  anti-drug  substances  de- 
veloped for  defense  of  vital  processes  in 
one's  body  are  themselves  abnormal, 
and  serve  only  to  attack  and  neutralize 
in  a  measure  the  poison  which  caused 
their  production.  Therefore,  when  the 
poison  fails  to  be  supplied  to  use  them 
up,  they  are  said  to  set  up  a  disturbance 
of  their  own,  which  is  recognized  as  a 
physical  craving  for  the  drug  that  stimu- 
lated their  development. 

The  second  factor  is  mental  or 
psychic.  And,  whereas  the  physical 
hunger  for  nicotine  is  speedily  over- 
come and  finished,  this  craving  existing 
in  the  mind  may  with  some  persons  last 
throughout  life.  It  is  purely  an  out- 
growth of  an  established  habit,  yet  the 
most  stubborn  and  persistent  force  a 
person  can  have  to  face.  It  will  drive  a 
man  to  drink  liquor  when  he  honestly 
desires  to  avoid  it,  when  he  knows  full 
well  that  to  do  so  will  bring  hunger  and 
sorrow  upon  those  whom  he  loves  bet- 
ter than  life  itself.  It  compels  the  mor- 
phine addict  to  lie,  steal,  and  even 
worse,  that  he  might  obtain  the  poison 
which  brought  about  his  enslavement. 

Habit  is  one  of  the  strongest  forces 
in  human  life — for  good  or  evil.  Good 
habits  are  a  salvation  to  the  fortunate 
possessor.  Bad  ones  are  a  continual 
trial  and  curse  to  him  who  desires  to  be 
liberated  from  them.  Some  individuals 
are  sufficiently  strong  in  will  power  to 
stop  almost  any  habit  at  once  and  never 
indulge  in  it  again.  Most  of  us  must  do 
it  more  gradually,  and  with  continued 
effort  over  a  long  time.  Especially  is 
this  true  of  the  mental  craving  for  to- 

JULY,  1944 


bacco,  liquor,  and  similar  habit-forming 
drugs.  A  certain  gentleman  who  had 
ceased  to  smoke  cigarets  some  thirty 
years  previous  was  heard  to  remark 
that  he  still  had  the  desire  for  a  smoke 
whenever  he  came  into  association  with 
others  who  were  smoking. 

The  physical  craving  already  men- 
tioned is  of  short  duration,  once  the  to- 
bacco has  been  discontinued,  and  two  to 
four  weeks  will  usually  see  it  over  with. 
As  has  been  suggested,  duration  of 
mental  craving  will  depend  upon  how 
firmly  the  individual  can  set  himself 
against  it.  The  story  is  told  that  Mark 
Twain  was  able  to  meet  this  only  by 
converting  himself  to  look  upon  tobac- 
co as  his  mortal  enemy  and  to  hate  it 
lustily. 

The  Desire  to  Quit 

"^Taturally  then,  there  is  one  thing 
■*"^  and  one  thing  only  which  is  ab- 
solutely necessary,  if  you  are  setting 
out  to  win  your  fight  against  the  tobac- 
co habit.  That  is  a  strong  desire  and 
stubborn  determination  to  succeed  in  it. 
If  you  have  any  reservation  in  your 
mind,  if  you  are  not  quite  convinced  that 
you  are  ready,  if  you  are  not  sure  the 
results  and  the  blessings  that  will  come 
from  it  are  worth  the  fight,  you  had  as 
well  not  begin,  because  this  particular 
battle  was  probably  never  won  by  any- 
one who  entered  it  that  way.    Also, 


while  much  help  can  be  given  one  who 
is  sincerely  determined  in  his  struggle, 
no  individual  can  do  the  job  for  another. 

The  once  popular  notion  that  some 
drug  could  be  secretly  included  in  a 
smoking  husband's  coffee  and  destroy 
his  taste  for  tobacco  had  no  foundation 
in  fact. 

Perhaps,  from  this  point,  brevity  and 
clearness  may  best  be  served  by  using 
a  method  of  questions  and  answers : 

1 .  How  Shall  I  Proceed? 

Having  considered  the  above  facts 
and  arrived  at  your  decision  to  break 
your  bondage,  you  may  begin  in  either 
of  two  ways : 

(a)  Stop  short  off,  and  not  touch  an- 
other smoke  or  chew  thereafter.  This 
serves  for  the  strong-willed  person 
especially,  but  is  also  good  for  some  of 
the  weaker  ones  who  cannot  follow  the 
second  plan  because  of  being  unable  to 
stick  faithfully  to  its  conditions. 

(b)  Gradually  taper  off  on  amount 
of  tobacco  used  until  none  is  taken.  If 
you  have  been  accustomed  to  smoking 
fifteen  cigarets  daily,  reduce  the  number 
by  one  each  day  until  the  zero  day, 
then  leave  them  alone  from  that  time  on. 
You  cannot  win,  if  you  give  way  now 
and  then  and  smoke  one  or  two  because 
some  friend  ridicules  your  silly  notion 
of  leaving  them  off.  You  will  only  have 
the  whole  thing  to  do  over  again.  Suc- 
cess requires  all  or  nothing. 

2.  Will  a  Change  of  Surroundings 
Help? 

That  would  be  of  great  benefit,  if 
your  work  takes  you  more  or  less  con- 
stantly into  association  with  others  who 
are  smoking.  However,  if  you  approach 
this  thing  in  the  right  spirit,  such  an  en- 
vironment will  not  cause  you  to  fail. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  association  with 
persons  who  do  not  use  tobacco  is  a 
great  help,  under  such  circumstances. 
{Continued  on  page  466) 


— Illustrated  by  John  Henry  Evans,  Jr. 


429 


RESUME  OF  LAWS 

^Aiffectina   ^Jitte  to    Ultah  <=Lana5 


six  months  after  the  first  publication  of 
such  notice,  were  required  to  state  in 
writing  the  interest  claimed  in  such  land 
and  to  file  the  same  with  the  clerk  of 
the  probate  court  of  the  county.  The 
clerk  was  required  to  record  the  state- 
ment in  a  book  and  file  the  same  in  his 

When  the  first  settlers  arrived  in                    *~            By    HUGH    O'NEIL  office,  which  was  to  act  as  a  notice  to 

hen  trie  nrst  settlers  arnvea  in                                      7  {   persons   c  aiming  interest   in  such 

^TU^  t    C     -S  n°W               11  land    Anyone  not  filing  a  claim  in  the 

of  Utah  the  region  was  a  small          The               t     rf  hts  were  not  con.  scribe<J  period  was  forever  barred  in 

part  of  a  vast  territory  belonging  to  tested  insofar  gs  ^  United  States  gOV_  H      d^m  ^  ^  Uw  Qr        it     £         t 

Mexico.   In  less  than  a  year,  however  emment  was  concerned,  but  the  Indian  that  the  judge  could  extend  the  time  not 

°?  .F?bTrYT K  a t  Mexico  ceded  all  tifcles  to  theS£  lands  had  not  yet  been  ^^  ^           from  the  first      b, 

of  it  to  the  United  States  in  the  Treaty  extin  uished;  consequently,  the  people  iication  of  notice,  for  good  cause. 

of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo.    No  effort  had  fa  sections  alr£ad    gettkd  were  holdi  » 

been  made  by  the  pioneers  to  secure  ..    .     ,      ,         ,     J     cauatters     In  De-  7    ,  ,]i    9  •              prooate  courc  was 

from  Mexico  title  bv  land  arants  to  the  l      u      ,o„    iy        squatters,    in  ue  t    hoId  hearings  on  adverse  claimants, 

lands  Xv  occuDied  C£mber  i853'  tbe  President  ,m  ,hAs  fft  *>r  which  full  minutes  were  to  be  kept 

lanob  uiey  occupieu.  sage  to  Congress  recommended  that  the  j  Pr,r,rnvp>d     An  anneal  from  the  de- 

Brigham    Young    had    declared    it  ,   b,   svstemb  bc  extended   over  Utah  a*T  aPP.roiyed'   ^n  appeal  irom  trie  oe 

would  be  the  nolicv  to  measure  out  to  A?     f^stem   °e  extenaea   over   Litan  dsion  of  the  probate  mdge  was  allowed 

wotua  oe  tne  policy  to  measure  out  iu  About  a  year  later  an  Act  was  passed  .     .h    Ai*trirt  mnrt 

paoCsesmNoapner  ^  SSaZeK  aulhorizinS  ^appointment  of  a  sut-  l^?no  adTe^e  dataants  to  lands  ap- 

Uy or  feU  fanTandftSe  who  refused  ^S^AlS^£T3  land  ^  thc  Pr°bate  C°Url  WaS  \Sm*- 

toyabide  by  the  rules  Were  to  be  re-  ~  *%5& fe  Congress's^  ^^T^^IX^ftfSrt 

quested  to  live  elsewhere.  ^utWizpd  the>  armointment  of  a  survev-  y     9    ,  * °  .     ^°L  1Y'      iTjA       f    i   ■ 

Fxercisina    the    riaht   of   leadership  authorized  the  appointment  or  a  survey  wajJ  satisfied  with  the  validity  of  claim, 

Exercising   tne   rignt   01   leaoersmp,  or-generai  for  TJtah  territory,  provided  hiHament  was  to  be  entered  on  the 

Brigham  Young  and  the  members  of  the  .  °  fu.  f  fh    Indian  tit]e  to  aaricultural  judgment  was  to  oe  enierea  on  cue 

Twelve  on  Auaust  7  1847  selected  lots          j  fc       tne  Indian  title  to  agricultural  record  and  fun  minutes  to  be  kept  of 

twelve,  on  August  /,  lot/,  seiecteaiou,  and    minerai    iands    be    extinguished.  *    artion   after  which  the  iudae  was 

near  the  temple  site,  also  making  res-  Therefore    durina  Tune  1865    a  treatv  w    ?t.    * :     *Y    fu          '     9  (lu 

prvations  for  members  of  their  imme-  lfteretore-  auring  June  ioo:>    a  treaty  tQ  certify  the  fact  to  the  mayor  of  the 

ervations  tor  memoers  or  tneir  imme  was  made  Wlth  a  number  Df  Utah  tribes  ■.     __  /own   who  would  make  a  deed 

diate  companies  who,  by  right  of  mar-  wherebv  thev  relinauished  all  claims  to  °P                '      ?          u        T     u£Z 

riage,  were  entitled  to  lots  and  land,  ^S  Srttffih^rtto^excertTdcs-  °f  •  con,veyf nce  to  snf  Par>    I£,  *e 

n^hpinn  rrivf>w  to  nnmarripd  men    Al-                 witnin  tne  territory  except  a  oes  original  entry  was  made  by  the  probate 

none  being  given  to  unmarried  men.  ai-  iqnated  reservation.  -,,  A.    l_      '  ,  tn  mau  a  convevance 

thouqh  it  is  clear  that  lots  were  selected  y  Jud9e>  Thfe  ,was  to  maKe  a  conveyance 

s^rto*p^er^n4r^  iJS'ipssiscM  ^sa^Assfsi- 

to  na Stv  did  the  settlers  flrst  secure  a  meth°d  S  the  probate  judge  was  the  claimant 

Instructions  were  issued  that  all  allot-  wherebY  theY  c°uld  obtain  legal  title  to  to  any  landS;  his  ciaim  was  to  be  filed 

men's ^re  t^b*  Vc^terld  on  a^Sy  the  land  they  had  OCCU^d  foru°Ver  with  the  probate  court  of  an  adjoining 

olat  to  be  keot  bv  Thomas  Bullock    It  ****&  Xears,  as  S£Juatters,  although  act-  county,  which  court  would  handle  his 

tfslo\r^lt^Tl7^\nl  ydW  f*  was  not  obtained  untl1  claim  'as  outlined  for  other  claimants, 

surveys,   certificates   approved  by  au-  18°?  Pr^c%           .                  rt^fci-J  giving    notice    to    adverse    claimants 

thorized  surveyors  shoufi  be  considered  ,  %  Act  of  Marcht?'  1 8,67'  P  °^    '  thr°UgJ  the  may°/  f  a  tOWn  r°r  °lty' 

itle  of  possession  to  the  holder  for  the  that  the  corporate  authorities  of  all  in-  or  to  the  ju  tice  of  the  peace  of  an  un- 

amount  of  land  therein  described.  corporated  cities  and  the  judge  of  the  incorporated  town.    If  the  claim  was 

,             .i     iL     >-t-       i-                 j  *~  county  court  should  enter  the  land  set-  valid  the  mavor  or  probate    udqe  was 

J&5&  land^ndTo  h'avf1 Thomas  tled  -  their  city  or  county  and  the  land  VQ  executed  deed  of  conviyance.    If 

6 32  £  Wn  a  rtnrH  of  surh  assSn  was  to   be   deeded  to  SUch   corPorate  the  mayor  of  an  incorporated  city  or 

Bullock  keep  a  record  of  such  assign-  authority  or  judge  in  trust  £or  the  use  t0wn  ^  ^  yalid  daimPant>  the  record. 

ments  until  iodu.  and  benefit  of  the  inhabitants.  The  lands  er  0f  such  town  or  city  was  to  execute 

Although  the  Mormons  organized  a  were  to  be  disposed  of  to  the  proper  tbe  deed  0£  conveyance  to  the  mayor 

provisional    civil    government    during  persons  under  regulations   to  be  pre-  Upon  the  certificate  of  the  probate  court 

March  1849,  under  the  name  of  Pro-  scribed  by  the  territorial  legislature.  A  change  of  venue  was  allowed  in  all 

visional  Government  of  the   Mate  ot          By  an  act  of  Congress  of  July   16,  these  cases,  the  same  as  in  suits  of  law. 

Deseret,   it   was    not    until   March    I,  1868(  it  was  ordered  that  the  public  Within  thirty  days  after  expiration 

1850,  that  the  office  of  county  recorder  lands  of  the  territory  should  constitute  of  six  months  for  filing  of  statements, 

was  created.  It  was  the  duty  ot  this  ot-  a  new  iand  district,  to  be  named  Utah  the  corporate  authorities  or  the  probate 

ficer  to  record  conveyances  or  transfers  district,    and    that    pre-emption    home-  judge  were  required  to  make  a  statement 

of  lands  or  tenements    With  the  crea-  steads  and  other  laws  o£  the   United  q£  a„  mQn      c         ded  in  acquisition  of 

tion  of   this   office,   the   efforts    of  the  States  should  be  extended  over  it.  the  title  to  iands  and  to  file  it  in  the 

Church  leaders  to  determine  whether          The  Utah  territorial  legislature  in  an  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court. 

land  was  to  be  sold  or  purchased,  were  Act  approved  February  1 7,  1 869,  fur-  The  corp0rate  authorities  or  the  probate 

also  apparently  relinquished,  tor  early  ther  outlined  the  procedure  to  be  fol-  judqe    were    required    t«    collect    all 

deeds  of  this  year  mention  the  transfer  lowed  in  granting  the  legal  title  of  the  charges  due  in  the  acquisition  of  the 

of  lands  for  a  consideration.  land  to  the  settlers.   The  corporate  au-  title>  before  making  a  deed  of  convey- 

During  the  existence  of  the  Provision-  thorities  of  a  town  or  city  or  the  probate  ance.    The  money  collected   for  lands 

al  Government  of  the  State  of  Deseret  judge  of  any  county  were  to   convey  was  to  be  paid  into  the  county  treasury 

many  land  grants  were  made  to  individ-  title  by  a  deed  of  conveyance.  for  the  support  of  common  schools  in 

uals  by  the  general  assembly.                            The    corporate    authorities    or    the  tbe  city  or  town. 

When  Utah  Territory  was  created,  it  probate    judge    were    required,    within  {Concluded  on  page  457) 

was  provided  in  the  Organic  Act  that  thirty  days  after  the  entry  of  the  lands,      

the  "lands  were  to  be  surveyed  under  to  give  notice  by  publication  in  a  news-  o^^^^&^SS^lJ^iS. 

direction  of  the  United  States  govern-  paper  once  each  week  for  three  sue-  tember  9,  1850;  Compiled  Laws  o{  Utah,  1888:  United 

ment  preparatory  to  bringing  the  same  cessive  months.   The  notice  was  to  con-  |££  £*  Jg  ggj-j.  i «  |^  ff^Hgri 

into  market."    By  the  Organic  Act  the  tain  an  accurate  description  of  the  lands  pued  United  States  Statutes,  1901,  Section  2387;  Acts. 

1                 _   £„.l,:JJ^«   *V.»  «rim->»T,  Aic  imj^lxjoA  Resolutions,   and   Memorials    of    ISth   Annual    Legisla- 

people  were  forbidden  the  primary  dis-  involved.  fiue  Assemblyi  Territory  of  Utah,  Chapter  7.  pages 

posal  of  the  soil.                                                   Any  claimants  of  such  lands,  within  4-6,  approved  February  1 1,  1 869,   ■ 

430  THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


CONFIDENCE 


M, 


.idnight.  The  stars  winked 
and  blinked  as  if  playing  a  friendly 
game.  Not  a  sound  could  be  heard  ex- 
cept the  horse  trotting  along  the  trail, 
the  creaking  of  the  saddle,  and  the  spur 
chains  hitting  on  the  bottom  of  the  stir- 
rups. A  coyote  howled  nearby.  An- 
other took  it  up  until  it  sounded  literally 
as  if  thousands  were  making  the  night 
hideous  with  their  wailing.  The  horse 
had  been  tense  and  nervous  but  now  he 
settled  down  to  an  easy  running  walk 
as  if  completely  relaxed.  The  rider  sat 
there  wide  awake  and  alert  thinking 
and  wondering,  wondering  and  think- 
ing  

Three  short  hours  before,  I  had 
locked  the  store  door  after  filling  a  large 
order  that  was  to  go  out  early  Monday 
morning.  Two  other  young  men  came 
along  and  we  stopped  and  talked  for  a 
few  minutes  when  we  saw  a  horseman 
riding  over  the  hill  a  short  distance 
away.  The  moon  was  low  in  the  west 
and  we  could  not  see  clearly  who  it  was 
but  we  did  notice  that  the  horse  was  a 
mighty  tired  animal.  Right  up  to  the 
store  came  the  horse  and  we  saw  the 
rider  slumped  over  in  his  saddle,  about 


Dm  dam,e5  [-^.' Syrian 


<p 


to  fall  off.    He  stopped  the  horse  and 
said: 

"Clara  and  her  baby  are  both  dead." 

In  a  small  country  village  when  death 

strikes  it  affects  every  home  just  as  if 

one  of  their  own  household  had  passed 

away. 

We  helped  him  from  his  horse  and  as 
we  sat  on  the  steps  he  told  us  this — for 
forty-eight  hours  he  had  sat  at  the  bed- 
side of  his  sister  without  leaving.  She 
had  died  at  noon  that  day  and  he  had 
ridden  forty  miles  to  bring  the  sad  news 
— the  young  husband  and  father  was 
bringing  the  bodies  in  a  white-top — the 
funeral  they  wished  to  be  held  at  noon 
the  following  day  and  someone  must 
see  about  digging  the  grave  and  notify 
some  relatives  back  in  the  mountains 
with  their  sheep,  and  he  could  not  go  on. 

We  helped  him  on  his  horse  and  told 
him  to  go  home,  for  we  would  notify 
the  bishop  who  would  see  to  everything. 

When  we  entered  the  home  of  the 
bishop  he  was  preparing  for  bed.  He 
listened  in  silence  as  tears  came  to  his 


eyes.  Then  he  said  to  me :  "Get  on  your 
horse  and  notify  the  relatives.  You  will 
find  them  up  either  in  Head-waters, 
Horse  Valley,  or  Little  Valley.  Better 
leave  now  so  as  to  be  there  when  it 
comes  daylight  and  you  can  see,  for 
they  will  need  all  the  time  there  is  to 
get  here." 

I  told  him  my  saddle  horses  were  all 
in  the  pasture,  three  miles  away  and 
chances  were  I  could  not  catch  one  be- 
fore daylight.  My  cousin,  Adam  Sharp, 
was  there  with  me.  He  spoke  up  saying, 
"You're  welcome  to  ride  Blue  Steel. 
That's  his  old  range  and  he  can  take  you 
there  by  the  shortest  trails.  Why  not 
take  him?" 

Why  not?  I  hesitated.  Then  the  bish- 
op said;  "What  you  waiting  for?" 

I  explained  to  him  that  this  horse  was 
considered  an  outlaw  that  bucked  every 
time  any  one  rode  him  and  he  was  large 
enough  to  carry  a  man  to  the  end  of  any 
trail  and  as  nimble  as  a  cat. 

He  looked  at  me  for  a  moment  and 
then  said,   "Trouble  with  you  young 
people  of  today  is — you  have  everything 
come  to  you  too  easy  and  always  have 
an  excuse  ready  for  any  and  every/oc- 
casion.   Adam  here  has  confidence",  in; 
the  ability  of  his  horse  to  take  you  there,  ■ 
and  I  have  confidence  in  your  ability" 
to  bring  him  back,  and  I  don't  want1  to 
see  you  come  limping  down  "'the"  road 
with  a  lot  of  excuses.   Do  you  think :  I 
relish   the  idea  of  going  through  this  : 
town  tonight  asking  people  16  meet'mej1' 
at  the  cemetery  at  daybreak  id "dicpthe/ 
grave?  Do  you  think  I  like  the  criticism,* : 
that  will  come  from  certain  cmtside'fs ;i 
when  they  find  I  have  broken  tne'  Sab- ! 
bath  by  digging  a  grave?  ; How  would"'1 
you  like  to  conduct  the  funeral  tomor- 
row?  I  asked  you  to  get.  word  to  those 
boys  and  I  expect  you  to  do  it  even  if 
you  have  to  walk."   : 

He'  put  on  his  hat"ahd"'coat .and  went 
out  of  the  house. 


"V 


W, 


/  TOUCHED  HIM  WITH 
MY  SPURS  AND  IM- 
MEDIATELY I  WAS  ON 
TOP   OF    A    TORNADO 


JULY,  1944 


t  t  E  three  youngsters  got  up 
and  went  to  the  stables  where  I  got 
my  saddle^  blanket,  bridle,  chaps,  and 
spirs  and  we  carried  those  to  my  cous- 
in:s;place.  When  we  led  Blue  Steel  out 
ofli|te  stable,  he  lifted  up  his  head  and 
gave  a  loud  snort — a  defiance  to  us.  We 
tied  his  front  feet  together  and  put  a 
blindfold  over  his  eyes.  Then  carefully 
thfe  saddle  was  cinched  tight,  the  front 
feet  untied,  and  while  my  cousin  twisted 
the  horse's  ears  I  eased  myself  into  the 
saddle  and  pulled  up  the  blind  not 
knowing  what  to  expect.  The  unex- 
pected happened,  for  the  horse  gave  an- 
other snort  and  trotted  off  like  a  well 
broke  animal.*  >-•■.  -■■;-, 

[As  I .  rode  awa^:  I  he&rd  the  other 
(GorifihueSoripage  458 ) 
AW 


UNITED  ORDER 


^Ijidcrimination   in  the    Ulde  of  ^Je 


ermd 


Whoever  desires  to  understand 
the  literature  of  the  Mormon 
people  that  deals  with  their  so- 
cial ideals  and  experiments,  must  ex- 
ercise considerable  care  in  confining  the 
meaning  of  terms  to  their  original  sig- 
nificance. Much  confusion  has  been  oc- 
casioned by  the  current  acceptance 
among  the  Mormons  of  the  term  united 
order  as  a  general  designation  of  ideal 
economic  systems  from  the  days  of  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith  to  the  present 
time;  whereas  the  appellation  was  used 
by  the  Prophet  and  his  contemporaries 
in  a  most  restricted  sense,  and  never 
thereafter  found  its  way  into  the  litera- 
ture of  the  church  until  Brigham  Young 
applied  it  to  the  system  inaugurated  in 
1 874.  Neither  Joseph  Smith  nor  any  of 
his  associates  ever  referred  to  the  Jack- 
son County  experiment  as  the  united 
order,  and  it  is  an  anachronism  to  apply 
the  title  to  that  program. 

Outside  of  a  dozen  references  in  the 
Doctrine  and  Covenants  and  the  Proph- 
et's own  History  of  the  Church,  the 
words  united  order  may  be  looked  for 
.in  vain  prior  to  their  use  by  President 
Young  at  St.  George  as  a  designation 
for  the  system  he  was  then  proposing. 
Had  it  been  common  practice  to  refer 
to  the  socio-economic  arrangements 
made  in  Jackson  County  as  the  united 
order,  the  name  would  have  been  used 
subsequently  as  a  convenient  label  in 
the  frequent  allusions  to  that  experiment 
in  sermons  devoted  to  the  consecration 
of  property  and  the  system  of  steward- 
ships. As  a  matter  of  fact,  though  the 
ideal  social  system  attempted  in  Jack- 
son County  was  frequently  discussed  in 
Mormon  assemblies  during  the  period 

JOSEPH  SMITH 


By 
FERAMORZ  Y.  FOX,  PH.D. 

President,  L.D.S.  Business 
College 


1844  to  1874,  the  words  united  order 
were  never  used. 

Joseph  Smith  gave  the  name  united 
order,  which  he  used  interchangeably 
with  united  firm,  to  a  joint-stewardship 
of  five  men,  later  seven,  constituting  a 
board  of  trustees  to  hold  certain  church 
properties  and  to  supervise  the  opera- 
tion of  mercantile  establishments  in 
Ohio  and  in  Missouri.  Their  functions 
and  responsibilities  were  quite  similar 
to  those  of  the  board  of  directors  of  a 
corporation  of  the  present  time,  holding 
and  managing  business  properties  for 
the  Church.  The  proof  of  this  state- 
ment is  ample.  On  April  26,  1832,  lead- 
ing elders  of  the  Church  held  meetings 
in  Zion  during  which  the  Prophet  pre- 
sented by  revelation  a  command  that 
five  men — Sidney  Rigdon,  Newel  K. 
Whitney,  Joseph  Smith  (all  of  Kirt- 
land),  Oliver  Cowdery,  and  Martin 
Harris  (both  of  Zion) — be  organized 
"to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  poor,  and 
all  things  pertaining  to  the  bishopric 
both  in  the  land  of  Zion  and  in  the 
land  of  Shinehah  [KirtlandJ."  This  or- 
ganization was  '  appointed  to  be  an 
everlasting  order."1  In  the  minutes  of 
the  meetings  the  organization  thus  ef- 
fected is  referred  to  as  the  united  firm.2 
In  later  revelations  this  body  of  men  is 
designated  as  the  united  order  or  simply 
as  the  order. 

Those  who  have  become  accustomed 
to  think  of  the  united  order  of  Joseph 
Smith  as  coextensive  with  the  steward- 
ship system  can  find  further  proof  of 
the  restricted  sense  in  which  the  term 
was  used  in  the  following  sentence  from 
a  letter  written  by  Joseph  Smith  April 
21,  1833,  and  dispatched  to  his  brethren 
in  Zion:  "For  your  satisfaction  I  have 
inserted  a  revelation  given  to  Frederick 
G.  Williams  the  15th  of  March,  1833. 
constituting  him  a  member  of  the  united 
firm."  The  inserted  revelation  is  this: 
"Verily  thus  saith  the  Lord,  I  give  unto 
the  united  order  ...  a  revelation  and 
commandment  concerning  my  servant 
Frederick  G.  Williams,  that  ye  shall  re- 
ceive him  into  the  order."  A  careful 
study  of  other  references  to  the  united 
order  show  that  the  term  was   never 

1Doctrine  and  Covenants  82:11-12.  20 

*Far  West  Record,  Ms..  April  26,  1832.  Office  of 
the  church  historian;  Smith.  History  of  the  Church. 
1:270.  footnote. 


used  by  Joseph  Smith  as  a  name  for 
the  more  general  system  of  steward- 
ships attempted  in  Jackson  County.3 

Tf  there  has  been  confusion  in  the  use 
of  the  title  united  order,  there  has 
been  more  in  the  use  of  the  designation 
order  of  Enoch.  In  the  scriptures  re- 
vealed to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  the 
following  occurs:  "And  the  Lord  called 
his  [Enoch's]  people  Zion,  because 
they  were  of  one  heart  and  one  mind, 
and  dwelt  in  righteousness;  and  there 
were  no  poor  among  them."4  It  has  be- 
come customary  among  Mormon  writ- 
ers and  speakers  to  refer  to  this  happy 
economic  condition  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Zion  of  Enoch  as  the  order  of 
Enoch.  Likewise,  Joseph  Smith's  ideal 
system  is  often  spoken  of  as  the  order 
of  Enoch,  it  being  supposed  that  the  two 
systems  are  of  the  same  pattern.  But 
the  name  Enoch  was  also  used  by  the 
Prophet  as  a  substitute  for  his  own 
and  when  so  used  the  order  of  Enoch 
could  have  meant,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
writer,  the  order  of  Joseph  Smith  and 
the  city  of  Enoch  the  city  of  Joseph 
Smith  (Zion  City).6  As  so  used,  the 
order  of  Enoch  has  the  same  meaning 
as  the  united  order  and  would  not  there- 
fore signify  the  broader  system  planned 
for  the  members  of  the  Church. 

(Continued  on  page  459) 

•Doctrine  and  Covenants  78:9;  92:1-2;  96:1-9;  104:1- 
53:  Smith.  History  of  the  Church  1:267,  270,  340.  363; 
11:21,  49.  In  choosing  the  title  for  his  book  The 
United  Order  Among  the  Mormons,  Geddes  fell  into 
a  prevalent  error.  The  title  of  a  second  book,  The 
Second  United  Order  Among  the  Mormons,  Allen, 
is  also  misleading.  There  can  be  no  second  until  there 
is  a  first. 
*Pearl  of  Great  Price,  Book  of  Moses.  7:18 
•Doctrine  and  Covenants  78:  title.  3-4;  82:  title; 
96:  title:  104-.  title. 

BRIGHAM   YOUNG 


432 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


.^TDodtate  ^jrach 


tpo5iaie  ^jracuons 

FOLLOWING  THE  MARTYRDOM 
OF  JOSEPH  SMITH 

Dm    C*.   L^ecll  rvlcLjauln 

OF  THE  CHURCH  HISTORIAN'S  OFFICE 


III 


James  J.  Strang 

The  largest  of  the  early  apostate 
factions  of  Mormonism  was  the 
one  founded  by  James  J.  Strang,  a 
man  who  was  comparatively  unknown 
at  the  time  of  the  martyrdom  of  Joseph 
Smith,  having  been  baptized  only  four 
months  before  the  Prophet's  death.  Mr. 
Strang  was  the  shrewdest  of  all  the 
"aspirants  to  Moses'  seat." 

He  commenced  his  imposture  by  an- 
nouncing that  an  angel  came  to  him  late 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  27th  of  June  and 
told  him  that  Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith 
had  been  killed  in  Carthage  Jail  and 
that  the  Lord  wanted  him  to  lead  the 
Church.  He  insisted  that  the  angel 
anointed  his  head  with  oil  and  ordained 
him  to  be  a  king  over  the  latter-day 
kingdom. 

This  miraculous  visit  and  important 
message  did  not  surprise  Jesse  James 
Strang,1  since  he  had  in  his  pocket  an 
alleged  letter  said  to  have  been 
given  to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  a  few 
days  before  he  went  to  Carthage.  So 
carefully  had  he  planned  his  course  that 
he  had  the  letter  printed  before 
he  showed  it  to  anyone.  He  thought  this 
course  would  add  to  the  importance  of 
the  document,  as  the  Prophet  no  doubt 
intended  publishing  it  in  the  Times  and 
Seasons  at  once,  he  maintained.  It 
would  also  fail  to  betray  the  hand  of 
the  scribe  who  wrote  it — -at  least  Mr. 
Strang  thought  so. 

In  1858,  President  Joseph  F.  Smith 
made  the  acquaintance  of  a  member  of 
the  church,  Charles  Wesley  Wandell, 
in  California,  who  declared  in  the  pres- 
ence of  witnesses  that  he  wrote  the 
document  himself  and  mailed  it  to 
Strang.  He  said  he  was  never  so  sur- 
prised in  his  life  as  when  Strang  ac- 
cepted his  vagaries  as  a  revelation  from 
the  Lord.2 

This  spurious  epistle  was  dated  June 
18,   1844.    It  was  mailed  to  Strang  at 

xIn  his  diary  Strang  frequently  wrote  his  name  across 
the  top  of  the  page.  In  1831,  this  entry  is  uniformly 
"Jesse  J.  Strang."  Beginning  with  the  following  year, 
the  forms  "Jesse  J."  and  "James  J."  are  intermixed 
until  in  1834  only  the  latter  form  appears.  The  maiden 
name  of  Strang's  mother  was  James,  her  father  being 
Jesse  James  [not  the  desperado].  Thus  it  is  apparent 
that  Strang  was  named  for  his  maternal  grandfather, 
and  that  beginning  about  the  year  1832  he  gradually 
reversed  the  order  of  his  given  names. — The  Kingdom 
o}  Saint  James,  Milo  M.  Quaife,  p.  2   (footnote). 

^Conference  Report.  October   1918,   p.  58 

JULY,  1944 


Burlington,  Wisconsin,  where  he  re- 
ceived it  July  9,  1844.  It  assured  the 
Prophet  that  his  days  were  numbered 
and  that  he  would  "soon  be  called  to 
rule  a  mighty  host  in  the  land  of  spirits." 
This  letter  made  it  clear  that  "my  serv- 
ant James  J.  Strang  shall  lengthen  the 
cords  and  strengthen  the  stakes  of 
Zion,"  establishing  the  place  of  gather- 
ing in  Wisconsin,  the  rendezvous  to  be 
named  Voree.  Later  he  transferred  his 
headquarters  to  Beaver  Island  in  Lake 
Michigan. 

To  a  few  of  the  new  converts  who  did 
not  know  the  order  of  the  Church  in 
matters  of  presidency,  these  claims 
seemed  attractive,  but  most  of  his  dis- 
ciples were  gleaned  from  the  ranks  of 
the  apostates — people  in  whose  hearts 
had  been  sown  the  seeds  of  misunder- 
standing and  hatred. 

Within  a  few  years,  a  few  hundred 
followers  of  this  type  had  gathered  to 
his  standard  at  Voree.  Among  his 
dignitaries  were  such  people  as  John  C. 
Bennett,  William  Smith,  John  E.  Page, 
William  Marks,  William  McLellin, 
George  J.  Adams,  and  others  who  were 
notorious  troublemakers  even  before 
the  death  of  Joseph  Smith. 

As  some  people  began  to  question  his 
ordination  by  an  angel,  he  had  William 
Smith  and  John  C.  Bennett  ordain  him, 
both  of  whom  had  been  excommuni- 
cated from  the  Church. 

He  established  a  secret  order  in  which 
he  was  known  as  the  imperial  primate, 
absolute  sovereign,  general-in-chief  and 
successor  to  Joseph  Smith.  There  were 
three  viceroys,  eight  privy  councilors, 
twelve  cardinals,  twenty-four  princes, 
and  an  equal  number  of  marquises, 
earls  and  knights,  with  twelve  chancel- 
ors  and  marshals. 

He  asked  his  followers  to  build  him 
a  large  tabernacle,  promising  the  Holy 
Ghost  to  all  who  labored  diligently  on 
the  project. 

At  last  the  long-expected  day  arrived 
and  the  glory  of  Pentecost  was  to  be 
revealed  at  the  dedication  of  the  build- 
ing. The  service  was  held  in  the  early 
evening,  since  all  his  plans  worked  bet- 
ter in  the  dark.  His  apostles  stood  at 
the  doors  and  anointed  the  faces  of  all 
the  members  with  olive  oil  which  con- 
tained a  strong  solution  of  phosphorus. 
In  the  early  darkness  he  pronounced  the 


phosphorus  glow  a  manifestation  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  another  witness  of  his 
prophetic  calling. 

There  were  a  few  people  in  the  dedi- 
catory service  who  were  not  deceived. 
Among  this  number  was  Reuben  Miller, 
who  with  his  family  left  on  the  next  boat 
that  sailed  from  Beaver  Island.  He  was 
glad  to  join  the  pioneers  and  follow  the 
leaders  to  the  valleys  of  the  mountains. 

Another  of  Mr.  Strang's  deceptive 
*^  devices  was  the  announcement  that 
an  angel  had  told  him  that  a  set  of  metal 
plates  awaited  his  attention.  He  rep- 
resented the  angel  as  having  said: 

You  know  that  tall  tree  where  the  road 
comes  close  to  the  forest.  That  tree  has 
grown  over  a  set  of  plates  which  contain  a 
record  too  sacred  to  get  into  the  Bible.  Di- 
rectly beneath  that  tree  you  will  find  that 
ancient  record.  Get  the  plates  and  translate 
them! 

This  shrewd  schemer  thought  that  if 
he  went  alone  and  recovered  the  plates 
it  would  be  said  that  he  had  deposited 
them  there,  so  he  called  three  of  his- 
apostles  and  described  the  hiding  place 
and  sent  them  after  the  record.  Arriv- 
ing at  the  designated  spot,  they  cut  the 
roots  of  the  tree  and  pushed  it  over.  Di- 
rectly beneath  it  they  found  a  small 
casket  of  baked  clay.  They  surmised 
that  the  said  plates  were  concealed  ira 
this  material,  so  placed  it  in  the  wagon 
and  took  it  back  to  Mr.  Strang.  He 
carefully  cut  into  the  clay  covering  and 
found  the  metal  plates. 

This  self-appointed  potentate  soon 
published  what  he  said  was  a  transla- 
tion from  these  records.  He  called  his 
new  book  of  scripture  The  Book  of  the 
Law  o/  the  Lord.  He  insisted  that  this 
record  had  no  connection  with  the 
plates  of  the  Nephites,  having  been  pre- 
pared in  Old  Testament  times. 

His   alleged  translation  was   in   the 

style  of  the  Old  Testament  and  dealt 

with  a  variety  of  subjects  such  as  food, 

dress,  animal  sacrifice,  activity  on  the 

( Continued  on  page  468 ) 

JAMES  J.  STRANG 


433 


SUCCESS  HOUSE 


d5i4  ~J\atharine  ^r4avliand-^JaiAioir 


j 


A, 


.my  Arnold  was  going 
home,  back  to  the  town  that  had  been 
named  after  her  family  when  they  had 
owned  almost  all  the  land  in  sight  and 
were  important.  Amy  was  bitter  from 
the  defeat  that  had  been  hastened  by 
her  having  in  her  heart  the  family  sweet- 
ness. In  the  last  days  of  her  shop  life — 
she  had  had  a  chaste  and  expensive 
New  York  shop  with  "Arnold  Decora- 
tions" written  on  the  door — she  had  let 
customers  return  goods  for  which  they 
couldn't  pay.  "Things  have  changed 
so,  Miss  Arnold,"  she  heard  again  and 
again  from  harassed  people.  And  she 
had  answered,  "Yes,  I  know;  don't  give 
the  matter  another  thought!"  That  was 
the  family  way  and  the  way,  she  now 
felt,  through  which  they  all  had  come 
to  ruin. 

She  had  even  made  exit  easy  for  Dean 
Hewlett,  to  whom  she  had  been  en- 
gaged. When  the  cessation  of  luxury 
buying  had  forced  her  to  close  her  shop, 
he  had  whined  out:  "But  I  thought,  dear 
heart,  I  thought  you  were  so  well  es- 
tablished! This  ends  everything,  it  has 
to  end  everything  for  us!  You  see  that?" 

She  had  been  kind  about  it,  too  kind 
she  felt  later,  and  now  she  vowed  she 
was  through  with  softness.  She  would 
hereafter  be  hard  and  successful,  and 
she  would  try  to  teach  them  at  home 
that  getting  on  came  only  with  grasp- 
ing and  holding  on. 

She  had  changed  trains  at  the  junc- 
tion and  now  she  rode  on  what  Arnolds- 
ville  called  "The  Branch,"  in  the  famil- 
iar old,  soot-stained,  creaking  car. 

She  rubbed  steam  from  the  car  win- 
dow, hoping  to  see  some  landmark  that 
still  meant  getting  home,  after  ten  long, 
hurried  years  away,  but  the  winter 
world  was  dark. 

"Arnolds-t>i//e  next  stop!"  sang  out 
the  conductor,  stepping  into  the  car. 
The  door  slammed  back  of  him.  Amy's 
chin  set;  the  name  might  have  been 
something  to  be  proud  of  if  any  of  them 
had  taken  thought  of  what  they  had 
once  had,  fought  against  loss,  and  held 
on.  But,  no,  they — all  of  them,  and  she 
included — had  preferred  to  smile  and 
make  the  world  happy  and  to  lose  out. 

Waiting  to  get  off,  Amy  saw  her  fa- 
ther on  the  station  platform.  Always 
shabby,  he  was  even  unusually  so. 
"Amy!"  he  called  loudly.  "Amy!"  His 
voice  broke  on  the  second  Amy.  Then 
a  moment  later  he  was  kissing  her, 
patting  her  back,  saying,  "Well,  darling, 
home  again,  home  again!"  and  his  eyes 
were  brimming. 

She  fought  the  rise  of  emotion  that 
his  frankly  shown  joy  put  into  her,  for 
you  didn't  get  anywhere  if  you  were 
soft.  Instead,  she  spoke  of  her  baggage. 
434 


"How  much  baggage  you  got,  Amy?" 
Harry  Arnold  asked. 

"Two  trunks,  three  bags,  and  a  hat- 
box,"  she  answered,  and  her  father, 
taking  off  his  cap,  which  she  suspected 
had  once  belonged  to  her  younger 
brother,  Bob,  scratched  his  head.  He 
guessed  he  could  get  Abel  Jones  to  bring 
the  trunks;  he  couldn't  manage  those. 

"Haven't  you  the  farm  wagon  any 
more?"  she  asked  sharply. 

Had  Amy  been  looking  at  her  father 
she  would  have  seen  the  gathering  of 
worried  lines  upon  his  brow  that,  with 
an  effort  of  will  power,  he  erased.  But 
she  did  not  glance  his  way  and  she  heard 
only  the  cheerful  but  decisive  voice  that 
was  often  his:  "These  have  been  bad 
years;  I  had  to  make  up  my  mind 
to  lose  some  things,  and  I've  made  up 
my  mind,  too,  to  be  thankful  that  I 
could  keep  the  car." 

To  be  thankful  for  that  car  of  stiff 
springs  and  ancient  vintage  set  upon 
Amy's  lips  the  new,  seared  smile.  If  her 
father  weren't  so  content,  if  he  would 
realize  the  decay,  fight  and  rebel,  she 
could  stand  it,  she  thought.  But  every 
miserable  thing  he  salvaged  from  the 
wreck  was  so  much  to  be  thankful  for. 

"You  get  in,  Amy  girl,"  said  Harry 
Arnold,  opening  the  front  door  of  the 
car,  "and  I'll  talk  to  Abel  about  bringin' 
up  the  trunks." 

He  settled  by  her  some  minutes  later. 
"I'll  tell  you,  Amy,  we're  pretty  happy 
to  have  you  here!" 

X  HE  same  unpaved  street; 
the  same  dull  houses  and  the  sparse 
street  lamps  that  with  their  feeble  pricks 
of  gloom  made  dark  so  much  darker. 
Now  they  were  leaving  the  town  behind 
them. 

"Mother's  havin  hot  biscuits  for  you, 
Amy.  And  another  thing,  she  made  new 
window  curtains  for  your  bedroom; 
and  I'm  kinda  mentionin'  'em  on  account 
of  the  way  she's  been  thinkin'  of  how 
pleased  you'll  be.  She  was  ironin'  'em 
off  this  afternoon  and  all  the  time  she 
kept  smilin'  and  sayin,'  'Well,  I  guess 
she'll  be  pleased!'  " 

"I'll  notice  them,"  she  promised,  feel- 
ing their  kindness,  but  feeling,  too,  that 
the  happiness  they  drew  from  little 
things  clouded  their  eyes  and  the  far 
sight  that  should  be  fixed  always  on  the 
uphill  road  ahead. 

They  were  turning  into  the  drive — 
once  impressive,  edged  by  stately  pines, 
but  now  so  many  of  tnem  dead  and 
others  dying.  The  door  of  the  house 
was  opening  and  she  saw  her  mother 
silhouetted  against  the  yellow  light. 
She  was  a  trifle  more  stooped — natural 


for  one  who'd  never  known  respite 
from  hard  work.  Then,  inside,  her 
mother  clung  to  her,  crying  but  smiling, 
and  saying,  "Dearie!  Dearie!"  as  if 
she'd  never  stop.  Cecile  came  down- 
stairs, shy  from  meeting  the  sister  she 
knew  so  slightly.  She  was  grown  and 
lovely,  but  still  plastic,  Amy  saw,  from 
her  candid,  inquiring  eyes.  Bob  ap- 
peared; he  had  the  fatal  family  smile. 
"Gee,"  he  said,  "you're  looking  swell!" 
She  was  to  go  to  her  room  to  wash 
up,  and  Mrs.  Arnold  would  dish  up. 
Bob  followed  her  with  two  of  her  bags. 
When  he  went  down  to  get  the  other 
bag  and  the  hatbox,  she  stood  staring, 
unseeing,  at  the  new  curtains. 

Oh,  the  family  would  just  smile  about 
it  all.  They'd  say,  easily,  that  something 
would  turn  up,  and  have  biscuits  for 
supper.  They'd  sell  another  stretch  of 
fields  because  they  couldn't  meet  the 
taxes,  and  rejoice  because  the  begonias 
were  in  bloom.  Well,  she  too,  had  been 
like  that,  but  she  would  be  no  more. 


l\i 


LMY  found  the  dining-room 
crowded.  Mr.  Arnold's  favorite  chair 
stood  before  one  window,  and  Bob.  was 
working  out  something  on  the  table  that 
was  before  the  other.  Mrs.  Arnold  had 
had  the  sewing  machine  imported  for 
the  same  reason;  it  was  nice  to  be  to- 
gether. 

"Sit  down,  dear,  in  your  old  place," 
her  mother  said.  Amy  spoke  her  ap- 
preciation of  the  window  curtains  and 
her  mother's  eyes  filled  again.  "I  hoped 
you'd  like  them,"  she  said.  Then,  "Give 
her  some  of  the  breast,  Papa.  We  killed 
a  young  hen,  but  they're  not  laying 
much,  anyway." 

"We  haven't  seemed  to  have  much 
luck  with  the  chickens  of  late,"  said 
Harry  Arnold  comfortably;  "but  then" 
— he  beamed  around  the  table — "we  got 
plenty  to  be  thankful  for!" 

Amy  stiffened.  Cecile  spoke  in  her 
shy  way,  "How's  Mr.  Hewlett?"  she 
asked. 

"Oh,  I  suppose  all  right,"  Amy  an- 
swered. "The  engagement's  over,  of 
course — this  smash!  One  can't  marry 
and  live  in  a  pigsty,  and  Dean  could  pay 
only  his  half  of  the  way,  so  when  I  had 
to  close  up — " 

They  were  appalled,  she  saw.  Every- 
one had  stopped  eating.  Cecile  breathed 
out  a  stricken,  "Oh,  Amy!" 

"He — he  expected  you  to  keep  on 
workin'?"  Harry  Arnold  questioned  in 
the  slow  manner  of  one  who  meets  a 
problem  that  is  entirely  beyond  his  un- 
derstanding. 

"Certainly,"  Amy  answered,  "and  so 
when  business  got  bad  we  decided  to 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


cut  the  tie.  Both  of  us  are  rather  keen, 
you  know,  on  making  the  best  of  life 
and  making  it  a  success," 

That  was  the  way  successful  people 
thought  and  talked,  she  knew,  and  she 
knew,  too,  that  her  people  didn't  un- 
derstand it;  that  they  couldn't.  Cecile 
had  twisted  the  setting  of  a  small  ring 
she  wore  to  the  inside  of  her  hand.  Amy 
suspected  that  the  child  felt  herself  to 
be  in  love  and  didn't  want  to  speak  of 
it  now. 

"I  saw  that  ring,"  she  said.  "You've 
met  the  young  man?" 

"Oh,  I  have,  Amy!  He's  wonder- 
ful!" She  held  her  hand  toward  Amy. 
"It  was  his  mother's  ring,"  she  added 
softly. 

"I  see.  Is  he  going  to  be  a  success?" 
she  questioned.  They  were  looking  at 
her,  because  the  voice  she  had  used  was 
not  one  they  had  ever  heard  from  her 
before;  it  was  sharpened  and  by  haste- — 
and  something  less  pretty. 

"Why,  I  don't  know,"  Cecile  fal- 
tered.  "I — I  know  I  love  him!" 

"You'd  better  know  about  his  future. 
It's  well  to  think  of  that,  you  see,"  said 
Amy,  and  she  saw  this  question  filter 
into  her  small  sister's  mind  to  start  a 
churning  ferment  of  thought. 

"I'm  thinking  of  her  and  her  good!" 
Amy  chanted  to  herself,  for  the  change 
in  Cecile's  face  had  hurt  her. 

Harry  Arnold  spoke  with  decision: 
"Harvey  Lane's  a  fine  young  man!"  he 
said.  "And  speaking  of  fine  young  men, 
we  got  a  new  neighbor  you  re  going  to 
think  a  sight  of,  Amy,  when  you  come 
to  know  him!" 

She  doubted  that.  She  had  "thought 
a  sight"  of  one  young  man  who  had 
paid,  upon  her  loving  him,  a  dividend  of 
pain.  She  was,  she  knew,  through  with 
men — and  every  softness. 

"He's  taken  the  Biggers'  place,"  put 
in  Bob. 

"His  name's  Jim  Grisby,"  said  Cecile. 
"He's  just  a  few  years  older  than  you." 

Amy  forced  a  laugh.  "Not  inter- 
ested." 

"He's  from  the  city,"  said  Harry 
Arnold,  "but  he  knows  how  to  farm, 
and  don't  you  forget  it.  I  don't  know 
how  he  gets  the  results  he  gets.  I  can't," 
he  ended  without  envy. 

"He's  real  kind,"  said  Mrs.  Arnold. 
"He  throws  lots  of  little  jobs  Papa's 
way." 

Once  they  had  owned  nearly  all  of 
Arnoldsville;  now  they  were  grateful 
to  anyone  who  "threw  little  jobs"  their 
way! 

"He'll  probably  be  over  tonight,"  said 
Bob.  "He's  got  the  habit  of  running  in." 

"You're  not  eating  much,  dear,"  said 
Mrs.  Arnold,  leaning  toward  Amy. 

"He's  kind,"  said  Harry  Arnold. 
"Always  askin'  my  advice  about  this  or 
that,  and  that's  just  his  politeness,  be- 
cause, when  you  come  down  to  it,  I'm 
just  kind  of  a  failure.  Mamma,  would 
you  start  the  pickles  down  this  way? 
Thanks." 

You  admitted  you  were  a  failure  and 
then  asked  someone  to  pass  the  pickles, 
if  you  were  her  father's  sort,  Amy  re- 
flected. If  you  were  another  sort  you'd 

JULY,  1944 


lose  all  appetite,  as  she  had,  because 
you  must  see  the  impossibility  of  their 
getting  anywhere. 


J. 


J  im  Grisby,  the  new  neighbor, 
appeared  as  the  last  of  the  supper  dishes 
were  being  set  on  the  pantry  shelves  by 
Cecile.  He  was  well-dressed,  good-look- 
ing. Amy  would  have  met  him  without 
surprise  in  New  York  and  might  easily 
have  been  charmed  by  his  genuine  ap- 
peal. But  now  the  poison  in  her  mind 
made  her  see  him  obliquely.  She  was 
hostile  to  this  newcomer  and  upstart 
who  was  doling  out  small  jobs  to  a 
descendant  of  the  Arnolds  who  had 
once,  long  ago,  owned  all  the  land  that 
this  young  man  now  made  to  pay. 

He  turned  to  ask  Mr.  Arnold  if  he 
wanted  to  play  checkers. 

"Well,  now,"  Harry  Arnold  an- 
swered as  he  rose,  "you  know  what  hap- 
pens when  I'm  asked  that."  And  quick- 
ly he  moved  to  get  the  checkerboard 
and  men  from  the  sideboard  drawer  and 
they  settled  to  play. 

Amy,  looking  on,  admitted  that  the 
scene  would  have  been  appealing  on  a 
stage,  but  she  knew  that  in  life  it  meant 
failure.  Bob,  eternally  smiling,  putter- 
ing on  some  invention  or  other,  was  his 
father  over  again  and  would  never  get 
anywhere.  Sweet  little  Cecile  was 
about  to  throw  herself  away  on  a  young 
man  who  would  farm  through  all  his 
lean  days  and  hers.  And  her  mother, 
her  mother  was  used  to  it!  Content! 

jl\  month  passed  to  carry 
the  world  with  it.  Amy  knew  she  was 
making  an  impression  on  Cecile. 


"I  know  you're  right,"  Cecile  would 
grant  weakly. 

"Darling,  I  am!"  Harvey  has  Father's 
placidity  and  cheer — that  horrible  habit 
of  making  the  best  of  everything.  "And 
watch  that  sort,  dear.  Watch,  that's  all 
I  ask!" 

Cecile  would  sit  on  the  edge  of 
Amy's  bed,  twisting  the  ring  that  had 
been  worn  by  Harvey's  mother,  and 
during  these  sessions  she  drew  deep 
breaths  that  did  nothing  to  aerate  her 
sodden  feeling. 

Jim  Grisby  visited  almost  daily,  but 
Amy's  hostility  continued.  And  Jim  said 
little  to  her. 

So  she  was  surprised,  one  day  in  early 
March,  when,  in  the  presence  of  the  en- 
tire family  and  over  the  checkerboard, 
he  asked  her  to  go  motoring  with  him. 
"Tomorrow  afternoon,"  he  specified, 
eyeing  her  anxiously. 

"It  would  do  her  good,"  said  Mrs. 
Arnold. 

"That'd  be  real  nice  for  her  and  it's 
mighty  good  and  kind  of  you  to  think 
of  it,  Jim,"  Harry  Arnold  added. 

Amy's  chin  went  up  and  she  was 
about  to  refuse  when  Jim  Grisby  spoke. 
"Dear  friends,"  he  said  ironically,  "you 
have  spilled  the  beans!  She  won't  go, 
now." 

"I  shall  be  glad  to  go,"  said  Amy 
quickly,  hot  spots  of  angry  color  on  her 
pretty  cheeks.  She  hated  him!  By  im- 
plication, with  raised  eyebrows  and 
questioning  expression,  thousands  of 
times  he  had  pointed  to  disagreement 
with  her  hard  code  and  now  he  was 
trying  to  make  her  seem  a  spoiled,  capri- 
cious child. 

( Continued  on  page  462 ) 


—Illustrated  by  John  Henry  Evans.  Jt 


435 


REPORT  TO 
THE  FIELD 

of  sQnotker  Ljear  of   (L-ra 
^Arctlultu  and  ~2)u 


STAKES 


)ucce55 


By  JOHN  K.  ORTON 

PJinineSd    ftlanaqer  of  the     C-m 


The  year  past  for  the  Era  was  the 
most  significant  in  accomplish- 
ment since  the  combination  of 
The  Improvement  Era  and  the  Young 
Women's  Journal  in  1929,  and  even 
though  we  fell  a  little  short  of  our  goal 
of  100,000  subscriptions,  we  did  secure 
94,000,  which  is  an  all-time  high   for 


MISSIONS 

PERCENTAGE  OF  QUOTA  AND  TOTAL  NUMBER 
OF  SUBSCRIPTIONS— GROUP  "B" 

SOUTHERN  STATES— Pres.  Heber  Meeks;  Helen  Bay, 
Y.W.M.I.A.  supervisor  and  "Era"  director. 

NORTHERN  STATES— Pres.  David  I.  Stoddard;  For- 
rest Ring  Black,  Y. M.M.I. A.  supervisor  and  "Era" 
director. 


TOTAL  NUMBER   OF  SUBSCRIPTIONS— GROUP   "A" 
CALIFORNIA— Pres.    Elijah    Allen;    Harro    C.    Beyer, 
Y.M.M.I.A.  supervisor  and  "Era"  director. 

PERCENTAGE   OF   QUOTA— GROUP   "A" 
NEW  ENGLAND— President  Wm.  H.  Reeder;  Kenneth 
Porter   (who  organized  and  started  the  campaign) 
and  Foley  Richards  (who  carried  the  campaign  to 
its  completion). 


PERCENTAGE  OF  QUOTA 
GROUP  "B" 


SOUTH  LOS  ANGELES— Pres.  John 
M.  Iverson;  Owen  B.  Robinson, 
Y.M.M.I.A.  supt.;  Mrs.  Nell 
Ellsworth,  Y.W.M.I.A.  pres. 


LONG  BEACH— Pres.  C.  Douglas 
Barnes;  L.  M.  Richmond,  Y.M. 
M.I. A.  supt;  Ethelyn  L.  Ward, 
Y.W.M.I.A.  pres.;  Darrell  W. 
Call  and  Mrs.  Frances  Soffe, 
"Era"  directors. 


SAN  FERNANDO— Pres.  David  H. 
Cannon;  David  G.  Watts,  Y.M. 
M.I. A.  supt.;  Florence  M.  Nortk, 
Y.W.M.I.A.  pres.;  Ernest  C. 
Haws  and  Mary  Robinson," Era" 
directors. 


EAST  JORDAN— Pres.  Heber  J. 
Burgon;  Hyrum  P.  Cannon, 
Y.M.M.I.A.  supt.;  Gayle  Gard- 
ner, Y.W.M.I.A.  pres.  (no  photo 
available);  Albert  Black  and 
Mary  Jenkins,  "Era"  directors. 


ONEIDA— Pres.  Paul  R.  Wynn  (no 
photo  available);  Erwin  R.  Spils- 
bury,  Y.M.M.I.A.  supt.;  Oneta 
Forsgren,  Y.W.M.I.A.  pres.;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ira  J.  Taylor,  "Era" 
directors. 


TOTAL   NUMBER   OF   SUBSCRIP- 
TIONS—GROUP   "B" 


INGLEWOOD  —  Pres.  Alfred  E. 
Rohner;  E.  J.  Sorensen,  Y.M. 
M.I. A.  supt.;  Elva  D.  Cusworth, 
Y.W.M.I.A.  pres.;  Stanford  Bird, 
"Era"  director. 


OGDEN—Pres.  Samuel  G.  Dye; 
Merrill  W.  Bird,  Y.M.M.I.A. 
supt.;  Lynette  Taggart,  Y.W. 
M.I.A.  pres.;  Albert  W.  Bell, 
"Era"  director. 


WELLS— Pres.  Thomas  E.  Towler, 
Percy  K.  Fetzer,  Y.M.M.I.A. 
supt;  Natalie  Parsons,  Y.W. 
M.I.A.  pres.;  A.  Y.  Stirling  and 
Alice  Coombs,  "Era"  directors. 


BEN  LOMOND— Pres.  William  A. 
Budge;  Earl  J.  Rhees,Y.M.M.I.A. 
supt.;  Addis  Thomas,  Y.W. 
M.I.A.  pres.;  Melvin  L.  Swenson, 
"Era"  director. 


POCATELLO—Pres.  Wm.  P.  Whit- 
aker;  Dan  W.  Martin,  Y.M. 
M.I.A.  supt.  recently  released 
who  carried  on  the  campaign; 
A.  B.  Chase,  newly-appointed 
supt.;  Grace  Meadows,  Y.W. 
M.I.A.  pres.;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ralph  Robbins,  "Era"  directors. 


436 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


TOTAL   NUMBER   OF   SUBSCRIP- 
TIONS—GROUP   "A" 


LOS  ANGELES— Pres.  Wilford  G. 
Ed  ling  Mervin  L.  Saunders, 
Y.M.M.I.A.  supt.  and  "Era"  di- 
rector; Mona  H.  Kirkham,  Y.W. 
M.I. A.  pres.  and  "Era"  director. 


SEATTLE — Pres.  Alexander  Brown; 
Jack    C.    Wilkins,    Y.M.M.I.A. 
(no     photo     available); 
Cropper,       Y.W.M.I.A. 
Leslie  C.  Seal,  "Era"  di- 


supt. 
Leora 
pres., 
rector. 


TAYLOR— Pres.  T.  George  Wood; 
John  L.  Allen,  Y.M.M.I.A.  supt.; 
Fannye  H.  Walker,  Y.W.M.I.A. 
pres.;  D.  E.  Wilde,  and  Emma 
H.  Dahl,  "Era"  directors. 


MOAPA — Pres.  Bryan  L.  Bunker; 
Marion  B.  Earl,  Y.M.M.I.A. 
supt;  LaVema  Whipple,  Y.W. 
M.I.A.  pres.;  A.  L.  Riddle  and 
Eva  N.  Perry,  "Era"  directors. 


FARR  WEST— Pres.  Wilmer  J. 
Maw;  Lawrence  W.  Jenkins, 
Y.M.M.I.A.  supt.  and  "Era"  di- 
rector; Mrs.  Marjorie  Schanck, 
Y.W.M.I.A.  pres. 


PERCENTAGE   OF  QUOTA 
GROUP  "A" 


SAN  DIEGO— Pres.  Wallace  W. 
Johnson;  Kenneth  T.  Calder, 
Y.M.M.I.A.  supt.  and  "Era"  di- 
rector; Lois  Westover,  "Era" 
director;  Mrs.  Josie  B.  Bay,  pres. 
of  Y.W.M.I.A. 


PHOENIX— Pres.  J.  Robert  Price; 
Wallace  E.  Broberg,  Y.M.M.I.A. 
supt.:  Ethel  R.  Peterson,  Y.W. 
M.I.A.  pres.;  L.  L.  Driggs, 
"Era"  director. 


UNION— Pres.  C.  Lloyd  Walch; 
Nephi  P.  Combe,  Y.M.M.I.A. 
supt.  (no  photo  available);  Kate 
Metcalf,  Y.W.M.I.A.  pres.;  Mel- 
Yin  Westenskow  and  Myrtle 
Price,  "Era"  directors. 


PORTLAND  —  Pres.  George  L. 
Scott;  A.  R.  Standing,  Y.M. 
M.I.A.  supt.;  Rose  D.  Hardy, 
Y.W.M.I.A.  pres.;  Wilford  W. 
Hardy,  "Era"  director. 


MINIDOKA  —  Pres.  J.  Melvin 
Toone;  Frank  F.  Watson,  Y.M. 
M.I.A.  supt.;  Elsa  Mclntire, 
Y.W.M.I.A.  pres.;  Ralph  McCloy 
and  Marjorie  Larson,  "Era"  di- 
rectors. 


Improvement  Era   subscriptions   by   a 
very  substantial  margin. 

This  magnificent  total  was  achieved 
through  the  untiring  efforts  and  the  mis- 
sionary spirit  of  ward,  stake  and  mis- 
sion workers  throughout  the  entire 
Church.  It  is  impossible  to  single  out 
any  particular  individual  because  out- 
standing records  were  received  from 
every  locality  and  under  every  condi- 
tion. Just  when  we  thought  an  insur- 
mountable record  had  been  established 
in  Idaho  some  ward  or  stake  in  Arizona 
would  surpass  it  and  then  later  some 
other  stake  in  Utah  or  California  would 
surpass  that,  until  at  the  close  of  the 
campaign,  stakes  and  missions  were  far 
ahead  of  any  previous  record,  and  we 
have  received  testimonies  from  men  in 
the  armed  services  and  from  families  in 
the  wards,  stakes  and  missions  express- 
ing gratitude  for  the  message  contained 
in  the  magazine  and  appreciation  for  the 
splendid  way  it  is  being  produced  by  the 
editorial  department  under  trying  con- 
ditions. 

We  list  with  this  article  the  names  of 
the  citation  winners,  and  while  we  know 
that  in  one  sense  there  can  only  be  a 
certain  number  of  winners  in  every 
race,  still  we  like  to  stand  on  the  side- 
line and  cheer  for  those  valiant  stakes 
and  missions  who  with  courage  and  de- 
termination carried  on  to  the  very  clos- 
ing day  of  the  campaign,  and  who  won 
in  many  ways. 

Again  this  year  Southern  California 
■**■  had  the  highest  number  of  citation 
winning  stakes  and  a  new  percent  of 
quota  winner  in  Group  "A" — San  Die- 
go. San  Diego  has  always  been  con- 
sistently good,  but  this  is  the  first  time 
it  has  won  the  top  honors  of  the 
group.  Kenneth  Calder  and  Lois  West- 
over  were  the  San  Diego  Stake  di- 
rectors. 

A  new  mission  came  to  the  front  this 
year— New  England.  President  Wil- 
liam H.  Reeder,  along  with  Elders  Ken- 
neth Porter  and  Foley  Richards,  would 
not  be  denied  and  New  England  for  the 
first  time  secured  first  place  in  percent 
of  quota  of  the  smaller  missions  of  the 
Church. 

The  Southern  States  Mission  won 
first  place  in  percent  of  quota  and  the 
highest  total  number  of  subscriptions, 
not  only  of  all  the  missions  of  the 
Church,  but  of  all  the  stakes  and  mis- 
sions as  well.  They  have  reached  a 
record  that  will  be  hard  to  surpass, 
turning  in  3,391  subscriptions  and 
reaching  511.5%  of  their  quota.  Presi- 
dent Heber  Meeks  with  the  splendid 
director,  Helen  Bay,  achieved  this  re- 
markable record  even  with  a  greatly 
reduced  missionary  personnel.  Every 
letter  has  indicated  that  the  mission  as 
a  whole  is  solidly  behind  this  work  and 
knows  of  the  great  good  which  is  done 
by  placing  this  magazine  in  the  homes 
of  our  people. 

With  pride  we  mention  the  achieve- 
ments again  this  year  of  the  South  Los 
Angeles  Stake,  first  place  winner  in  per- 
{Concluded  on  page  438) 


JULY,  1944 


437 


Report  to  the  Field 

{Concluded  from  page  437) 
cent  of  quota  and  total  number  of  sub- 
scriptions of  all  the  stakes  in  the 
Church.  Our  appreciation  to  South  Los 
Angeles  is  great,  and  we  know  that  the 
growth  of  The  Improvement  Era 
through  the  past  ten  years  is  in  part 
traceable  to  the  remarkable  achieve- 
ments of  the  South  Los  Angeles  Stake. 
This  work  is  directed  from  the  stake 
presidency,  with  the  bishops  of  wards 
as  a  very  important  cog  in  the  machin- 
ery. The  organization  is  set  up  with 
perfect  precision,  and  we  believe  that 
perhaps  less  actual  campaign  time  is 
used  in  this  stake  than  any  other  stake 
in  the  Church. 

We  must  mention  the  remarkable 
achievements  of  the  other  citation  win- 
ners. Seattle  Stake,  which  has  been  con- 
sistently a  first*  place  winner,  even 
though  it  placed  second  this  year 
was  able  to  secure  345.7%  of  its 
quota.  The  Northern  States  Mission, 
also  a  usual  first  place  winner,  finished 
in  second  place  this  year  with  a  very 
remarkable  record  of  433.7%  of  its 
quota.  California  Mission,  Los  Angeles, 
Inglewood,  Long  Beach,  Phoenix,  Og- 
den  were  again  outstanding  in  their 
groups,  as  well  as  the  other  citation 
winners. 


X\7e  are  proud  that  every  stake  in  con- 
**  tinental  America  went  over  the 
top  this  year.  We  are  proud  of  our  as- 
sociations with  a  group  of  workers  that 
are  not  surpassed  in  any  phase  of 
Church  activity  for  loyalty  and  devo- 
tion and  energetic  pursuit  of  a  great 
cause.  The  devotion  and  sacrifice  of 
these  leaders  is  responsible  for  the  suc- 
cess of  The  Improvement  Era.  Every 
ward,  stake  and  mission  worker  has 
contributed  to  this  phase  of  missionary 
activity.  Many  homes  will  be  blessed 
and  benefited  and  large  numbers  of  in- 
active Church  members  will  return  to 
activity  through  the  inspiration  of  The 
Improvement  Era.  Soldier  boys  in  every 
corner  of  the  world  will  feel  a  contact 
with  home  and  Church  through  the  dili- 
gence and  conscientious  efforts  of  these 
workers  who  have  seen  to  it  that  The 
Improvement  Era  would  be  placed  in 
their  hands. 

The  Improvement  Era  has  grown  be- 
yond our  fondest  hopes.  Its  power  for 
good  is  being  felt  throughout  the  entire 
world.  Era  directors,  ward,  stake  and 
mission,  with  the  support  and  help  of 
the  priesthood  officers,  are  the  motivat- 
ing force  behind  this  growth,  and  we 
know  that  all  who  have  participated 
will  have  joy  and  satisfaction  in  the 
knowledge  that  the  work  has  been  done 
so  successfully  during  1943-44. 

CITATION  WINNERS 

Stakes  in  Group  "A" 

1.  Los  Angeles  Stake 

First  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 
Fourth  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 

438 


2.  San  Diego  Stake 

First  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
Sixth  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

3.  Seattle  Stake 

Second  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
Second  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

4.  Phoenix  Stake 

Third  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
Fourth  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

5.  Taylor  Stake 

Third  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 
Sixth  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 

6.  Union  Stake 

Fifth  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 

7.  Moapa  Stake 

Fifth  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

8.  Portland  Stake 

Seventh  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
Eighth  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

9.  Farr  West  Stake 

Seventh  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 
Ninth  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 

10.  Minidoka  Stake 

Eighth  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
Ninth  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

Stakes  in  Group  "B" 

1 .  South  Los  Angeles  Stake 

First  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
First  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

2.  Long  Beach  Stake 

Second  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
Third  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

3.  Inglewood  Stake 

Second  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 
Third  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 

4.  Ogden  Stake 

Fourth  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 
Fifth  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 

5.  San  Fernando  Stake 

Fourth  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
Seventh  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

6.  Wells  Stake 

Fifth  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

7.  Ben  Lomond  Stake 

Sixth  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
Sixth  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

8.  East  Jordan  Stake 

Seventh  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 

9.  Oneida  Stake 

Eighth  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 

10.  Pocatello  Stake 

Eighth  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

Missions  in  Group  "A" 

1.  New  England  Mission 
First  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 

2.  California  Mission 

First  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

Missions  in  Group  "B" 

1.  Southern  States  Mission 
First  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
First  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 

2.  Northern  States  Mission 
Second  Place,  Percent  of  Quota 
Second  Place,  Total  Subscriptions 


l/l/ean 


t 


flot!" 


By  DONALD 
M.  BRUCE 

Now  as  at  no  other  time  since 
the    Saints    left    Nauvoo, 
there  is  great  need  for  the 
faith  expressed  in  the  grand  old 
hymn,  "If  the  Way  be  Full  of 
Trial,  Weary  Not!" 

None  of  us  can  say  as  to  what 
trials  and  tribulations  we  may 
have  to  endure  before  this  war  is 
won.  It  is  needless  to  tell  the 
members  of  the  Mormon  Church 
that  they  will  have  to  make  sac- 
rifices to  win  this  conflict,  for  no 
other  people  in  the  world  know 
the  meaning  of  that  word  as  we 
do.  Our  past  history  and  present 
deeds  show  that  clearly.  I  have 
in  mind  one  brother  who,  while 
keeping  his  younger  brother  on  a 
mission  in  California,  was  called 
into  the  U.S.  Army.  Instead  of 
calling  the  missionary  home,  he 
sold  his  car,  and  left  the  money 
in  trust  in  order  that  his  brother 
might  finish  his  mission.  No,  we 
Mormons  don't  need  to  be  told 
how  to  sacrifice. 

This  war  cannot  be  won  sim- 
ply by  sacrifice,  but  rather  by  a 
combination  of  that  and  coopera- 
tion, perseverance,  and  reverence 
for  God.  The  need  for  the  latter 
will  be  found  increasingly  more  in 
the  postwar  era.  Yet  the  seeds 
must  be  planted  now  in  order  to 
gain  the  final  and  ultimate  victory 
over  oppression  and  evil. 

Victory  would  be  an  empty 
word  if  we  could  not  see  some 
means  of  a  decent  place  to  live  in 
the  generations  following  the  war. 
It  is  in  this  coming  era  of  chaos 
and  confusion  that  we  of  the  Mor- 
mon faith  will  be  called  upon  to 
take  a  large  share  of  the  huge  task 
of"  resettling  the  world.  In  order 
to  be  equal  to  the  task,  we  must 
face  the  dark  days  ahead  with 
the  same  faith  in  God  as  did  the 
pioneers  during  the  dark  days  of 
Kirtland  and  Nauvoo. 

So  keep  singing,  you  Latter-day 
Saints,  and  remember — 

If  die  way  be  full  of  trial,  weary  not! 

If  it's  one  of  sore  denial,  weary  notl 

Weary  notl 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Poetry 


GIVE  THANKS  FOR  ROOTS 
By  Eva  Willes  Wangsgaard 

GIVE  thanks  for  quiet  roots. 
Unkissed  by  sun, 
Deep  in  the  earth,  unseen, 
Their  work  is  done. 

Spraying  the  breath  of  spring 
With  almond  scent, 

Sweetening  crimson  fruits 
When  bloom  is  spent, 

Cooling  the  summer  noon 
With  fragrant  shade 

Over  a  flowered  rug 
By  grasses  laid, 

Making  the  autumn  air 

Mellow  as  musk 
While  curls  of  smoke  unfold 

Bluing  the  dusk, 

Keeping  the  patterns  true, 
Leaves,  flowers,  fruits — 

Such  is  a  mother's  work. 
Mothers  are  roots. 


IF  I  HAVE  FAITH 
By  Helen  Mating 

After  this  time  of  work  and  stress 
My  love  of  beauty  will  not  be  less. 
I  shall  find  words  again  to  say 
What  I  may  wish  about  the  day. 

If  I  have  faith,  and  hold  to  light, 
I  shall  find  comfort  in  the  night. 
Seasons  continue,  as  rain  and  sun  .  .  . 
I  shall  know  calm  when  peace  is  won. 

Dormant  within,  like  bulbs  till   spring, 
My  heart  will  never  forget  to  sing. 
Lovely  in  music,  words  may  tell 
Surges  of  beauty  that  rise  and  swell. 


FOR  THERE  A  TREE  HAD  BEEN 

By  Anna  Prince  Redd 

**XTot  well  placed,  and  far  too  big,"  we 

*■  ^1    said. 
"Too  shady  underneath  for  lawn  to  grow; 
It  cuts  the  view;  its  branches  trail  too  low; 
With  all  its  tough,  exploring  roots  outspread, 
It  dulls  the  mower,  chokes  the  sewer  bed  .  .  . 
Too  bad,  the  weeping  willow  tree  must  go, 
A  flowering  shrub  shall  take  its  place."  And 

so 
We  called  the  cutter.   Undisquieted. 

Too  lightly  we  consoled  ourselves  for  loss 
Of  gray-green  leaf,  of  graceful  bough  and 

shade; 
For  linnet  songs  the  dawn  had  ushered  in. 
We  tried  to  hide  the  scar  with  florist  moss 
Until  new  grass  should  grow.  We  used  the 

spade 
To  no  avail — for  there  a  tree  had  been! 


SURRENDER 
By  Merling  D.  Clyde 

The  dogwood  blooms  are  white 
Along  the  canyon  walls. 
In  wooded,  mossy  dells 
Snow  seepage  gently  falls. 
There  is  a  tangy  breath 
In  burst  of  swelling  sod; 
While  stiff  young  breezes 
Cause  tag-alder  buds  to  nod. 
The  old  hills  watch  once  more 
Each  vibrant,  living  thing 
Surrender  to  the  charm 
Of  winter  into  spring. 


TWO  GUESTS 

By  Lois  Neupert  Greene 

HE  only  saw  uneven  floors; 
He  winced  and   frowned   at  creaking 
doors; 
He  found  the  worn  place  in  the  rug, 
Gave  old  mahogany  a  shrug. 
When  he  had  gone  I  couldn't  face 
My  house;  it  seemed  an  ugly  place. 

You  loved  the  shine  of  my  old  brasses, 
Admired  my  Wedgwood  demi-tasses, 
Traced  my  Paisley  shawl's  design, 
And  sighed  for  Persian  rugs  like  mine. 
When  you  left,  my  house  and  I 
Were  thankful  for  your  loving  eye. 


POSTSCRIPT  TO  A  PRAYER 
By  Elaine  V.  Emans 

Close  to  my  heart 
Has  my  request 
Lain  now  for  weeks, 
Yet,  Lord,  the  best 

Answer,  I  know. 
At  length  will  be 
Not  my  own  will, 
But  yours  for  me. 


SON  AT  SEA 
By  Margery  Ruebush  Shank 

OGod,  through  tomorrow  and  the  next 
day  and  the  next, 

Watch  over  the  sea. 
Let  starlit  nights  prevail,  I  ask  of  Thee! 
Be  Master  of  the  waves  that  toss  the  ship 

upon  the  deep; 
And  safely  guard  a  little  boy  I  used  to  rock 
to  sleep! 


«  ♦ 


HOPE 
By  James  Hood 


WHILE  THE  SHORTAGE  LASTS 
By  Lucretia  Penny 

IT  may  leak,  it  may  lean. 
Lack  windows,  lack  paint, 
Miss  being  modern 
Without  being  quaint; 
But  the  words  FOR  RENT 
Upon  a  sign 
Can  make  a  shabby 
House  look  fine. 


Every  cloud  will  pass  away 
And  sunshine  come  again; 
As  darkness  but  precedes  the  day 
So  will  flowers  follow  rain. 


A  FLEETING  THOUGHT 
By  Inez  Stevens  Cooper 

Time  is  but  reactive  in  length  to  how  we 
spend  it. 

Thus  — 

Yesterday  my  children  were  but  babies  in 

my  arms, 
And  yet  today  they're  grown. 
Tomorrow  I  shall  find  them  holding  babies 

of  their  own 
Because  the  time  is  filled  with  little  things 

that  I  must  do 
To  make  them  grow. 

No  wonder  that 

Eternities  are  short  to  God. 


ENOUGH  FOR  ME 
By  Anne  Pendleton 


Tt  will  be,  then,  enough 
■*■  If,  as  a  friendly  dart, 
A  word  in  song  of  mine 

Should  lull  some  saddened  heart. 
Perhaps  that  heart,  through  ache, 

Has  quite  forgot  to  sing; 
The  lilt  of  my  tuned  thrust 

May  send  that  heart  awing! 

JULY,  1944 


"Photograph  by  Wgatt  Davis 


PATTERNS 
By  Marvin  Miller 

Stolid-faced  Navajo, 
Weaving  designs 
Conceived  in  silence 

Under  silent  pines, 
What  Master  hand 

Gave  you  the  loom 
And  wool  to  twist 

In  your  hog  an  room? 
Stoic-like  Navajo, 

Do  you  see 
The  blood-red  pattern 

Of  eternity? 


TWILIGHT 
By  Thelma  Ireland 

The  sky  is  military  blue; 
It  glows  with  eerie  light. 
The  stars  are  big  brass  buttons 
Sewed  on  the  cloak  of  night. 

■  ♦  ■ 

ESSENCE 

By  John  E.  Donovan 

As  years  the  book  of  Life  unclose, 
•**  The  eyes  of  love  have  shown  to  me 
That  other  hearts  are  told  in  prose, 
But  yours  in  poetry. 

439 


The  Chircfo 


Relics  of  '49 

'T'he  James  H.  Sweeney  collection  of 
*  guns;  pictures,  both  portraits  and 
paintings  of  the  early  days  of  the  El 
Dorado  region  of  California;  and  fix- 
tures, furniture,  household  items,  and 
equipment  of  early  day  activities,  has 
been  received  by  the  Deseret  Museum. 
Some  of  the  guns  date  from  the  Revolu- 
tionary War. 

The  Church  came  into  possession  of 
the  collection  when  they  purchased  the 
Sweeney  home  to  be  used  for  a  meet- 
ing place  of  the  Placerville  Branch, 
Northern  California  Mission. 


Church  of  the  Air,  July  23 

'T'he  Columbia  Church  of  the 
A  Air  will  be  heard  over  KSL 
and  the  nationwide  Columbia 
Broadcasting  System,  from  the 
Tabernacle,  Temple  Square,  Salt 
Lake  City,  Sunday,  July  23,  at 
1 1 :00  a.m.,  Mountain  War  Time. 


Y.W.M.I.A.  Board  Member 

"RTrs.  Carol  Hinckley  Cannon,  long 
■*-VA  active  in  M.I. A.  work  in  Liberty 
and  Utah  Stakes,  and  the  Wasatch 
Ward,  has  been  named  as  a  member  of 
the  Y.W.M.I.A.  General  Board.  She  is 
the  wife  of  Tracy  Y.  Cannon,  manager 
of  the  McCune  School  of  Music  and 
Art. 

British  Ambassador 

At  his  own  request,  Lord  Halifax, 
■**■  British  ambassador  to  the  United 
States,  touring  America,  accompanied 
by  Lady  Halifax,  Governor  and  Mrs. 
Herbert  B.  Maw,  and  others  of  his  of- 
ficial party  attended  a  typical  Mormon 
Sunday  evening  meeting  during  a  Salt 
Lake  City  visit  May  14. 

At  the  services,  held  in  the  Garden 
Park  Ward  of  the  Bonneville  Stake, 
Dr.  Adam  S.  Bennion  was  the  principal 
speaker.  He  described  the  Mormon 
people  and  the  Church. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting  Lord 
Halifax  was  presented  with  a  triple 
combination  copy  of  the  Book  of  Mor- 
mon, Doctrine  and  Covenants,  and 
Pearl  of  Great  Price  autographed  by 
President  Heber  J.  Grant,  Governor 
Maw,  Salt  Lake  City's  Mayor  Earl  J. 
Glade,  and  Sterling  W.  Sill,  ward  bish- 
op. 

In  response  to  the  gift  the  ambas- 
sador said; 

I  have  been  profoundly  impressed  by  this 
experience.  The  Mormon  exodus  was  one 
of  the  greatest  ventures  of  faith  in  all  his- 
tory. What  an  example  it  is  for  those  who 
seek  the  same  freedom  and  liberty  of  truth. 

440 


The  Invasion 

HPhe  First  Presidency  issued  this 

■*■     statement  soon  after  hearing 

that  allied  forces  had  begun  the 

invasion : 

June  6,  1944 

We  have  been  asked  for  a  com- 
ment upon  the  invasion. 

We  feel  this  is  a  day,  not  for  com- 
ment, but  for  prayer  for  our  loved 
ones  who  are  in  the  service  and  for 
the  triumph  of  righteousness. 

Heber  J.  Grant, 
J.  Reuben  Clark,  Jr., 
David  O.  McKay, 

The  First  Presidency 


"The  Church  News" 

'TVie  Church  News,  miniature  Church 
A  paper  published  by  the  first  presi- 
dency for  the  service  men  and  women 
throughout  the  Church  began  publica- 
tion of  a  monthly  schedule  May  15. 

The  twelve  page  2%  by  Ay2  inch 
paper  will  contain  inspirational  material, 
vital  messages,  answers  to  questions, 
and   a  summary  of  important  Church 


current  events.  Questions  pertaining  to 
Church  doctrine  may  be  sent  by  service 
men  to  the  L.D.S.  Service  Men's  Com- 
mittee, 47  East  South  Temple  Street, 
Salt  Lake  City  1,  Utah. 

Distribution  of  The  Church  News 
will  be  made  to  approximately  seventy 
thousand  service  men  and  women 
through  their  ward  bishops. 

Logan  Temple 

"T^HE  sixtieth  anniversary  of  the  dedi- 
•*■  cation  of  the  Logan  Temple  was 
limited  to  regular  temple  sessions,  May 
1 7.  Six  persons  who  attended  the  dedi- 
cation services  May  1 7  to  20, 1 884  were 
present  at  the  endowment  sessions. 
They  are  Joseph  B.  Daines,  first  coun- 
selor of  the  present  temple  presidency, 
Patriarch  Samuel  B.  Mitton,  John  E. 
Eliason,  John  E.  Dahle,  William  P. 
Camp,  and  Mrs.  Mary  E.  G.  Titensor. 

Standard  Quorum  Awards 

T^he  presiding  bishopric  have  an- 
■*■  nounced  that  during  the  first  quarter 
of  1944  they  issued  873  Standard  Quo- 
rum Awards  to  the  Aaronic  Priesthood 
quorums  throughout  the  Church  for  the 
year  1943.  This  record  is  nearly  as  high 
as  1941,  the  banner  year  in  this  activity. 


MISSIONARIES  WHO  ENTERED  THE  MISSIONARY  HOME  MAY    15, 
AND  LEFT  FOR  MISSION  FIELDS  MAY  24  AND  25,  1944 


1944, 


Left  to  right,  first  row:  Marie  Egbert,  Carol  Snow,  Mary  E.  Barraclough,  Don  B.  Cotton,  Jessie  John- 
son, Marjorie  Jensen,  Rosa  Mae  McClellan. 

Second  row:  Jacob  L.  Hartvigsen,  Cleo  Pond,  Ingrid  Johnson,  Marion  Knight,  Ellen  Knight,  Verla  G. 
Wamsley,  Edna  Groen,  Clyde  Bair. 

Third  row:  Wm.  E.  Berrett,  Deaun  Moulton,  Patricia  Croft,  James  C.  White,  William  L.  Francom, 
Marva  T.  Jensen. 


MISSIONARIES  WHO  ENTERED  THE  MISSIONARY  HOME  APRIL  77  AND  DEPARTED 

APRIL  26  AND  27,  1944 
Front  row,  left  to  right:    Joseph  Smith  Wilson,  Nancy  A.  Sorensen,  Kathleen  Zundel,  Don  B.  Colton, 
Alice  May  Brewer.  Beverly  Ure.  Carol  Snow. 

Second  row:   Maurine  Hansen,  Katherine  Tuttle,  Hector  J.  Spencer,  Lola  Humphreys,  Rosemary  Spears, 
Clifford  J.  Bell,  Henry  W.  Gubler. 

Third  row:   R.  H.  Boswell,  Elizabeth  Boswell,  Donna  M.  Corbin,  Ira  A.  Maxfield,  Mary  B.  B.  Maxfield, 
David  T.  Edwards. 

Fourth  row:   Henry  G.  Lawrence,  F.  E.  Peterson,  Wm.  E.  Berrett,  Wm.  L.  Huff,  Eben  R.  T.  Blomquist. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Primary  Board  Member 

TJTermana  Forsberg  Lyon  of  the  East 
*  *■  Mill  Creek  Ward,  Grant  Stake, 
Primary  Association  has  been  ap- 
pointed to  the  Primary  General  Board. 
Mrs.  Lyon,  a  graduate  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Utah,  is  the  wife  of  T.  Edgar 
Lyon,  associate  director  of  the  Salt 
Lake  institute  of  religion,  and  former 
president  of  the  Netherlands  Mission. 
She  supervised  women's  activities  of 
that  mission  for  four  years. 

Boy  Scout  Movement 

HT'o  further  promote  and  utilize  the  Boy 
"*■  Scout  movement  in  the  Church,  six 
of  the  Scout  executives  of  Utah  and 
Idaho  were  recently  named  field  rep- 
resentatives of  the  Y. M.M.I. A.  general 
board.  The  executives  are  S.  Dilworth 
Young  of  the  Ogden  area  council,  Pres- 
ton W.  Pond  of  the  Cache  Valley  coun- 
cil, Vernon  L.  Strong  of  the  Teton 
Peaks  council,  Charles  R.  Balmforth  of 
the  Snake  River  area  council,  D.  L. 
Roberts  of  the  Tendoy  council,  and 
Rulon  W.  Doman  of  the  Utah  National 
Parks  council.  Datus  E.  Hammond  of 
the  Salt  Lake  council  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  general  board  since  1931. 

Missionaries  Released 

,rpHE  following  missionaries  were  re- 
A  "leased  during  March,  and  others  not 
previously  reported: 

Brazilian:     Finn  Bergstedt  Paulsen,  Salt  Lake  City. 

California:  Jeddie  Woodrow  Hart,  Preston.  Idaho; 
Clarence  Max  Orton,  North  Ogden,  Utah;  Waldo 
Golden  Cook,  Hyde  Park,  Utah;  George  Austin  Palm- 
er, Malad,  Idaho;  Lloyd  William  Guest,  Salt  Lake 
City;  John  Leslie  England,  Tooele,  Utah;  William 
Wright  Robinson,  Freedom,  Wyoming;  Elmer  Carvel 
Dansie,  Pittsburg,  California;  Ida  Hougaard  Rogers, 
Lewiston,  Utah;  Samuel  Russell  Rogers,  Lewiston, 
Utah. 

Central  States:  Loren  Waldon  Ferre,  Salt  Lake  City; 
Ellis  John  Robinson,  Salt  Lake  City;  Max  Lawrence 
Bond,  Roy,  Utah;  Carlton  Herbert  Craner,  Portland. 
Oregon;  Orren  Otto  Munro,  Soda  Springs,  Idaho; 
Allen  Clyde  Schoenfeld,  Salt  Lake  City;  Eldon  Leon- 
ard  Walton,   Salt  Lake   City. 

East  Canadian:  Alton  Anderson,  Idaho  Falls,  Idaho; 
Lewis    Cail,    Woods    Cross,    Utah;    Byron    Braithwaite 

{Continued  on  page  447) 


LETTER  TO  STAKE  PRESIDENCIES 

ON  GIRLS  TWELVE  TO  TWENTY 


/~\n  June  5,  1944,  the  following  im- 
^^  portant  letter  was  sent  to  stake 
presidencies  by  President  George  Al- 
bert Smith,  of  the  Council  of  the 
Twelve : 

Dear  Brethren: 

A  need  for  carefully  looking  after  our 
girls  as  we  are  now  doing  with  our  boys 
of  Aaronic  Priesthood  age  is  commonly 
recognized.  A  plan  for  doing  this  was 
put  into  operation  in  Granite  Stake  in 
1941  and  similar  plans  were  soon  in  op- 
eration in  some  neighboring  stakes. 
These  plans  were  examined  by  the 
Council  of  the  Twelve  and  their  assist- 
ants with  the  result  that  a  checking  or 
correlation  plan  has  been  recommended 
which  we  approve  herewith  and  send  to 
you  with  the  request  that  you  give  it 
careful  study. 

The  girls'  checking  or  correlation 
plan  as  set  up  is  as  follows: 

1.  A  stake  executive  committee  directing 
the  work  consists  of  a  member  of  the  stake 
presidency,  a  member  of  the  stake  high 
council,  stake  Sunday  School  superintend- 
ent, presidents  of  the  stake  Relief  Society, 
Y.W.M.I.A.,  Primary,  and  principal  of  the 
Junior  Seminary.  Working  under  this  com- 
mittee and  by  its  advice  are  a  woman  su- 
pervisor and  a  secretary  who  work  closely 
with  ward  committee. 

2.  In  each  ward  there  is  a  similar  com- 
mittee made  up  of  the  bishopric  and  presi- 
dent or  superintendent  of  each  auxiliary 
organization. 

3.  Working  under,  and  with  the  advice 
of  the  executive  committee,  are  a  lady  chair- 
man and  secretary  who  work  with  lady 
advisers  or  checkers.  Each  checker  is  di- 
rectly responsible  to  the  ward  committee 
and  the  bishopric  for  checking  on  from  8  to 
15  girls. 

4.  The  duties  of  the  checkers  requite  them 
to  keep  in  touch  with  each  girl  assigned  to 
them  and  let  her  know  that  she  has  a  friend 
interested  in  her.    She  is  regularly  checked 


and  advised  monthly  as  to  her  attendance 
at  Sunday  School,  Y.W.M.I.A.,  sacrament 
meetings,  seminary,  payment  of  tithing,  ob- 
servance of  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  social 
life  and  associates  with  specific  reference  to 
her  moral  life.  A  careful  record  is  made  of 
all  these  checkings  and  regularly  reported. 

The  secretary  keeps  an  individual  card 
for  each  girl,  as  well  as  a  comparative 
master  roll,  of  every  organization  or  girl 
group,  showing  the  attendance  of  each  girl 
at  M.I.A.,  Sunday  School,  and  sacrament 
meeting. 

5.  Once  each  month,  as  required  by  the 
Presiding  Bishopric,  the  bishopric  of  each 
ward  meets  with  all  boy  leaders  of  priest- 
hood, Sunday  School,  Y.M.M.I.A.  To 
this  same  meeting  come  the  women  who 
work  with  and  check  on  the  girls.  At  this 
meeting  problems  concerning  every  girl  and 
boy  may  be  discussed.  To  facilitate  this 
there  is  a  separation  into  three  sections — 
workers  with  boys  and  girls  of  ages  from 
12  to  14,  15  to  16,  17  to  20,  respectively. 
Thus  the  check-up  plan  for  girls  involves 
no  extra  meeting  of  the  bishopric.  A  monthly 
report  on  each  girl  is  sent  by  the  lady  chair- 
man and  secretary  to  the  stake  supervisor 
and  secretary  who  compile  the  reports  re- 
ceived for  the  ward  committees  and  stake 
presidency.  Once  a  month  the  stake  director 
meets  with  ward  lady  chairmen  to  discuss 
special  problems.  In  small  and  widely  scat- 
tered wards  it  may  be  wise  for  a  lady  check- 
er to  contact  all  the  girls  from  12  to  20  in 
her  immediate  neighborhood  rather  than  to 
do  as  would  be  done  in  larger,  condensed 
wards  where  all  the  girls  assigned  to  each 
checker  belong  to  one  of  the  three  age 
groups.  Checking  only  on  one  age  group 
enables  the  checker  to  be  in  that  section  of 
the  monthly  meeting  to  which  her  age  group 
belongs. 

As  will  be  seen  the  setting  up  of  com- 
mittees under  the  direction  of  the  stake 
presidency  and  bishopric,  respectively, 
necessitates  no  new  organization,  but  a 
plan  paralleling  the  Aaronic  Priesthood 
plan  designed  to  help  and  encourage  the 
(Concluded  on  page  447) 


MORMON  BATTALION 

Part  of  the  first  platoon  of  the  "Mormon  Battalion"  that  enlisted  in  the  Marine  Corps  in  July,  1942,  is  seen  here  ot  a  South  Pacific  base.  They  spent  nearly 
a   year   in   New  Zealand,   and  came   through   the   Gilberts   campaign  unhurt. 

The  men,  seated,  left  to  right:  L.  Morris,  R.  Strieby,  J.  K.  Heaton,  H. .  Vandertneyden,  R.  W.  Young,  R.  Wellard,  W.  Rounkles,  G.  Shupe,  G.  L.  Anderson.  Stand- 
ing, second  row:  E.  Redd,  G.  Thurber,  J.  Barfus,  D.  Lindsey,  O.  Nelson,  W.  Beaus,  A.  J.  Thomas,  D.  Sayer.  Standing,  third  row:  H.  White,  P.  Levorsen,  Hadlock,  L. 
Burton,  J.  W.  Surrage,  D.   Tomlin,  D.   G.  Heaton,  5.  De  Santis. 

Those  not  present  when  the  picture  was  taken  are  R.   Beesley,  J.  Donaldson,  H.  Moss,   O.   Dilworth,   W.   Stevens. — Reported   by   Cpl.   Reid   W.   Young. 

iULY,  1944  -4*1 


pOtteOD  EtotPtif 

^^^^. ...: _"*  *__    *         *  .  .         • ••     *  ..........'  .\.. ........... .\.< 


m 


-  ':C:  ^fW 


By  RICHARD  L  EVANS 


TLTeard  from  the  "Crossroads  of  the  West"  with  the  Salt  Lake  Taber- 
nacle Choir  and  Organ  over  a  nationwide  radio  network  through 
KSL  and  the  Columbia  Broadcasting  System  every  Sunday  at  12:00  noon 
Eastern  War  Time,  11:00  a.m.  Central  War  Time,  10:00  a.m.  Mountain 
War  Time,  and  9:00  a.m.  Pacific  War  Time. 


~Jo   r  1/ (others,  present  and 
Ujet  to  L^ome 

Tt  would  be  difficult  on  Mother's  Day  to  say  anything  new 
concerning  mothers,  or  even  to  say  anything  old  in  a  new 
way,  so  numerous  and  eloquent  have  been  the  tributes  writ- 
ten and  spoken  of  them  in  all  past  years.  But  this  year  the 
channels  of  thought  are  burdened  with  urgent  messages  of 
love  and  appreciation  for  mothers  the  world  over  from  sons 
in  far  places.  For  these  young  men,  who  would  say  it  for 
themselves  if  they  were  here,  may  we  assume  the  role  of 
spokesman  and  convey  their  love  and  their  gratitude  to  those 
millions  of  mothers  whom  they  cherish  in  their  hearts,  and 
whom  they  dwell  upon  in  their  thoughts  on  this  day.  All 
glory  be  to  the  mothers  who  have  done  their  work  well. 
And  now  may  we  use  the  seconds  remaining  to  say  for  those 
who  are  away  defending  home  and  country  what  we  think 
might  be  their  message  to  the  mothers  whose  work  still  lies 
before  them — a  message  freighted  with  truth  and  urgency: 
The  politics  of  the  world  run  in  cycles.  The  great  men  of 
earth  come  and  go.  The  fortunes  of  war  change — but  the 
influence  of  motherhood  is  constant.  Every  generation  is 
shaped  by  their  thinking.  The  kingdom  of  motherhood  is 
one  of  the  last  to  be  invaded — and  throughout  all  genera- 
tions has  strongly  withstood  those  who  would  intrude  upon 
it.  Its  jurisdiction  no  public  agency  has  ever  taken  over  with 
continuing  success.  That's  why  we  must  look  with  critical 
reservation  upon  any  tendency  toward  making  inroads  upon 
the  home.  If  we  are  to  keep  faith  with  our  children,  we 
must,  while  ours  is  still  the  primary  influence  in  their  lives, 
counsel  with  wise  and  understanding  hearts,  exhort,  and  dis- 
cipline in  ways  of  sound  living.  War  would  not  be  possible; 
evil  could  not  gain  hold  upon  the  hearts  of  men;  the  social 
structure  of  nations  could  not  disintegrate;  the  spiritual 
hopes  and  ideals  of  the  world  could  not  be  thrown  down 
and  trampled  upon,  if  every  mother  were  to  give  to  the 
career  of  motherhood  all  that  is  implied  and  expected  in  this, 
the  greatest  mission  that  God  ever  gave  to  any  woman — a 
mission  which,  being  well  done,  no  joy  can  equal.  A  home 
where  the  great  spiritual  truths  and  fundamental  virtues, 
where  self-imposed  courtesy  and  consideration  for  the  rights 
of  others,  have  been  instilled  into  the  hearts  of  children, 
cannot  be  the  incubator  of  false  ideas  and  ideals  which  per- 
mit men  to  go  wrong  and  upset  the  world  in  every  genera- 
tion. This  thought  the  mothers  of  all  nations  and  people, 
present  and  yet  to  come,  will  do  well  to  ponder:  We  are 
fighting  a  war  to  make  the  world  safe  for  those  things  which 


the  mothers  of  the  world  could  make  safe  for  us  without 
war,  if  they  will.  —May  14, 1944. 


Ljlorifuina  the   Ifl/ledi 


vocre 


"THhere  comes  to  mind  a  phrase  of  three  words — Glorifying 
the  Mediocre — which  is  indicative  of  a  practice  where- 
by young  and  old  are  schooled  in  a  world  of  unreality  and 
confused  thinking.  In  its  mildest  forms,  in  casual  conversa- 
tion and  in  the  recounting  of  experiences  to  our  friends  and 
acquaintances,  it  may  be  recognized  by  a  tendency  toward 
moderate  exaggeration — placing  emphasis  where  it  doesn't 
belong;  adding  color  to  what  really  happened;  speaking  in 
terms  of  quantities  and  qualities  that  are  somewhat  beyond 
the  facts.  In  its  more  aggravated  forms  this  practice  of  glori- 
fying the  mediocre  goes  beyond  mild  exaggeration  to  the  ex- 
treme of  deliberate  and  premeditated  hyperbole,  coupled  with 
prodigal  use  of  extravagant  words.  We  do  not,  by  any  means, 
use  the  English  language  exhaustively;  thousands  of  words 
lie  buried  in  the  dictionary,  never  seen,  never  heard,  never 
known  by  most  men — but  a  few  hundred  words,  some  of 
which  are  most  extravagant,  are  greatly  overworked.  In- 
deed, there  are  those  who  have  lost  the  art  of  understate- 
ment, and  with  whom  hyperbole  is  worn  and  weary — whose 
only  regret  is  that  there  are  not  more  grand  and  superb 
and  incomparable  and  stupendous  adjectives  for  the  glori- 
fying of  the  mediocre.  But  calling  the  commonplace  collos- 
sal,  or  the  greatest  whatever-it-is  of  all  time,  is  much  like 
crying  "wolf,  wolf!"  If  every  performer  comes  on  with 
fanfare,  there  isn't  much  left  for  the  real  star.  If  everything 
is  great,  if  everything  is  unprecedented,  if  everything  is  said 
to  be  indispensable,  if  everything  is  the  chance  of  a  lifetime, 
an  opportunity  that  will  never  come  again,  language  soon 
takes  on  the  dullness  that  comes  with  over  sharpening.  After 
using  a  superlative  there  isn't  much  more  that  can  be  said 
to  add  strength  or  to  fortify  conviction.  It  is  no  wonder, 
then,  that  our  youngsters  sometimes  become  loose  in  their 
thinking  and  immoderate  in  their  speech.  They  have  been 
schooled  by  observation  in  the  prevalent  practice  of  glorify- 
ing the  mediocre.  If  everything  commonplace  is  clothed  with 
glamor  and  garnished  with  unrestrained  words,  and  propped 
up  with  insupportable  claims,  it  is  going  to  be  difficult  for 
any  generation  to  be  straight  and  sound  and  sure  in  its  think- 
ing. This  business  of  glorifying  the  mediocre  and  misrep- 
resenting the  commonplace  is  basically  unethical,  and  is 
making  it  difficult  for  our  children  to  distinguish  between 
sterling  and  tinsel.  And  it  may  make  it  difficult  for  us  to 
recognize  the  real  thing  when  it  does  come  along. 

—May  21,  1944. 


442 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


W  ItapDG 


^rnotker  <UJait    Will  Oe 


'9 


earn 


omm 


9 


As  the  years  were  added  upon  his  head,  Victor  Hugo 
wrote:  "I  feel  immortality  in  myself.  Winter  is  on  my 
head,  but  eternal  spring  is  in  my  heart.  The  nearer  I  ap- 
proach the  end,  the  plainer  I  hear  around  me  the  immortal 
symphonies  of  the  world  to  come.  .  .  .  For  a  half  century  I 
have  been  writing  my  thoughts  in  prose  and  verse;  but  I 
feel  I  have  not  said  one-thousandth  part  of  what  is  in  me. 
When  I  have  gone  down  to  the  grave  I  shall  have  ended 
my  day's  work;  but  another  day  will  begin  next  morning. . . ." 
It  is  comforting  to  read  what  great  minds  have  caused  to  be 
written,  but  whether  they  had  so  written  or  not  would 
neither  affect  the  outcome  nor  alter  man's  conviction.  Man 
is  himself  the  evidence  of  his  own  immortality.  "God  is  not 
the  God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the  living,"  (Matt.  22:32)  and 
Memorial  Day  is  recognition  of  an  undeniable  conviction 
in  men,  that,  being  dead,  they  live.  And  yet,  as  concerning 
life  and  death,  there  are  those  who  would  take  issue  with 
the  decisions  of  the  Almighty — those  who,  if  they  were 
running  the  affairs  of  the  universe,  would  no  doubt  cause  to 
live  some  who  have  died,  and  would  shorten  the  years  of 
some  who  now  live  unworthily.  But  we  who  find  it  difficult 
to  make  the  simple  decisions  of  our  daily  lives — difficult 
enough  (and  sometimes  too  difficult)  to  keep  straight  our 
own  personal  affairs — could  scarcely  trust  ourselves  with 
the  decisions  of  life  and  death.  It  is  not  given  unto  us  to 
know  the  why  of  all  things.  Beyond  every  answer  lies  an- 
other question,  and  inevitably  we  come  to  know  that  we 
must  live,  in  part  at  least,  by  faith — but  a  faith  fortified  with 
the  all-sufficient  assurance  that  though  death  do  us  part  there 
is  yet  another  meeting  place  where  men  shall  know  and  be 
known  by  those  they  cherish;  where  they  shall  find  work  to 
do,  and  shall  grow  in  intelligence  and  godlike  achievement, 
worlds  without  end.  And  neither  the  uncertainty  of  life  nor 
the  certainty  of  death  can  destroy  the  peace  of  those  with 
whom  is  found  such  conviction — a  conviction  that  could  not 
be  implanted  by  argument.  There  are  no  words  to  convince 
a  man  of  such  an  elemental  truth  if  the  evidence  of  it  didn't 
speak  to  him  from  his  very  being.  And  all  our  deference  for 
the  dead  is  its  own  testimony  of  that  without  which  life 
would  have  no  meaning.  — May  28, 1944. 


ing  that  somehow  they  will  become  what  we  have  called 
them.  In  childhood  we  find  this  practice  delightfully 
excusable.  A  small  boy  wants  a  horse.  He  finds  a  stick, 
and  straddles  it,  and  calls  it  a  horse — and  to  him  it  becomes 
a  horse.  If  we  were  to  confine  this  practice  of  childhood 
to  things  that  don't  matter,  it  might  well  continue  to  be  a 
harmless  source  of  pleasant  diversion.  But  we  sometimes 
permit  it  to  carry  over  where  it  does  matter.  In  material 
things  our  laws  have  made  some  progress  in  prevention.  The 
manufacturer  of  commodities  must  indicate  to  the  consumer 
what  his  product  contains  in  terms  that  can  be  understood. 
If  it's  all  wool,  the  label  may  say  so;  but  if  it  isn't,  the  maker 
must  so  inform  us.  But  with  intangibles — with  principles 
and  virtues  and  character  and  human  qualities — the  problem 
becomes  more  difficult.  A  man  may  designate  himself  as 
Honest  John  Smith.  The  prefix  may  indicate  honesty  or  it 
may  be  a  device  to  cover  sharp  practice.  The  conferring  of 
a  high-sounding  title  in  public  life,  or  in  private  venture, 
may  mean  what  it  implies,  and  it  may  not.  We  have  seen 
much  of  overnight  experts  and  specialists.  Holding  the  office 
and  receiving  the  salary  aren't  the  determining  factors. 
Titles  are  cheap,  and  there  is  no  limit  to  the  number  or  the 
grandeur  of  those  that  can  be  coined.  Raising  a  man  to 
office,  lavishing  him  with  authority,  gilding  him  with  extrav- 
agant publicity,  attributing  to  him  virtues  he  doesn't  possess, 
do  not  effect  miraculous  transformations.  A  leader  isn't  a 
leader  merely  because  someone  says  he  is.  He  is  a  leader 
only  if  he  can  lead  men  and  if  they  will  follow  him — and  if 
they  aren't  soon  sorry  when  they  do.  But  to  go  back  to  the 
boy  and  his  stick  horse:  Someone  will  say,  if  the  stick  will 
make  him  as  happy  as  would  a  horse,  why  not?  That  might  be 
all  right  if  we  could  remain  in  our  childhood  and  forever  in- 
dulge in  the  game  of  self-delusion,  but  inevitably  there  comes 
a  time  when  life  forces  its  realities  upon  us,  and  then  comes 
the  realization  that  labels  are  fraudulent  and  titles  are  empty 
unless  they  honestly  describe  the  contents  of  the  package  or 
the  qualities  of  the  man.  To  call  a  man  something  he  isn't, 
doesn't  make  him  what  we  call  him,  whether  it  be  good  or 
bad.  Labels  are  useful  if  they  tell  the  truth.  They  are 
treacherous  if  they  don't.  — May  7,  1944. 

Copyright.  1944. 


cLabeld 


"Rvery  generation  has  its  foibles  and  its 

practices  of  self-deception,  one  of 
which,   certainly,   is  the  mislabel- 
ing   of    things — calling    them 
something      other       than 
what  they  are,  and  hop- 


JULY,  1944 


443 


Editorials 

^Jke    \AJau   of  lAnitu 

VS7"hen  Christ  plead  that  his  disciples  all  might  be 
*"  one,  he  sounded  an  abiding  principle  of  conduct 
in  human  affairs  more  fundamental  than  any  rule  of 
parliamentary  procedure  to  be  found  in  the  handbooks. 
Being  one  in  purpose  and  spirit  is  the  necessary  prelude 
to  being  one  in  mind.  Men  of  widely  divergent  views 
can  deliberate  on  any  problem  and  come  out  friends  as 
long  as  they  are  not  partisan  in  spirit.  In  committees 
or  councils  or  general  assemblies,  or  at  international 
peace  tables,  they  will  arrive  at  unanimity  of  action 
when  they  begin  in  unanimity  of  feeling.  Fact  and 
opinion  and  free  discussion  resolve  themselves  into  a 
decision  which  is  the  product  of  many  minds  but  one 
spirit.  What  is  an  open  forum  becomes  a  concord  of 
action  which  is  not  an  agreement  merely  but  a  convic- 
tion having  the  forged  strength  of  alloy,  the  harmony 
of  many  chords.  It  is  not  spineless  compromise;  it  is  not 
"peace  at  any  price";  it  is  not  flabby  submission  to 
whoever  happens  to  be  presiding.  It  is  a  new  creation — ■ 
it  is  the  way  of  unity. 

It  is  the  only  way  the  Church  knows.  Since  the 
burden  of  its  mission  is  to  establish  peace,  its  member- 
ship must  be  one — whether  as  bishopric  or  stake  presi- 
dency or  Sunday  School  superintendency,  as  quorum, 
committee,  or  conference.  Their  every  action  to  be 
valid  must  be  an  action  unanimously  taken.  This  does 
not  call  for  a  leveling  of  individual  thought  and  con- 
viction to  a  meaningless  concurrence,  but  on  the  con- 
trary for  the  full  employment  of  the  very  experience 
and  differences  which  caused  them  to  be  called  to  their 
positions.  So  long  as  they  are  "anxiously  engaged  in 
a  good  cause,"  they  will  without  fail  come  to  a  unanimity 
of  action.  And  to  the  extent  they  are  in  harmony  in 
their  deliberation  and  discussion,  they  will  express  the 
Lord's  will,  for  harmony  is  the  law  of  his  government, 
in  the  bodies  of  the  universe  as  in  the  heart  of  man. 

Some  there  may  be  who,  "convinced  against  their 
will,  are  of  the  same  opinion  still,"  and  miss  entirely  the 
thrill  of  this  harmony.  Unable  to  discipline  themselves, 
they  nurture  an  opposition  even  after  the  decision 
founded  on  due  deliberation  and  free  discussion  has 
been  made.  High-minded  men  and  women  avoid  these 
rifts.  They  see  the  greatness  and  the  beauty  and  the 
power  of  the  whole,  the  one,  of  which  they  are  but  a 
part.  They  know  the  strength  and  joy  of  the  way  of 
unity  in  the  Church. — W.  M. 


[Parental  kJi 


w 


irtunik 


t 


"VJiTiTH  the  summer  vacation  in  full  swing,  parents  now 
"™  have  an  opportunity  to  learn  whether  they  have 
planned  wisely  enough  for  activity,  in  both  work  and 
play,  for  the  younger  members  of  the  family,  who,  re- 
leased from  school,  still  need  most  careful  direction. 

In  the  past  year  or  so,  parents  have  heard  much  about 
juvenile  delinquency.  Recognizing  that  such  a  thing 
exists,  it  now  seems  opportune  to  change  the  emphasis 
and  call  it,  from  a  positive  point  of  view,  juvenile  op- 
portunity. It  is  amazing  in  the  history  of  mankind  just 
how  much  had  been  done  by  children  of  even  tender 
years.  Parents  need  to  recall  frequently  that  Mozart 
was  only  eight  when  he  published  his  first  musical  score; 
Columbus  went  to  sea  at  fourteen;  Robert  Fulton  in- 
vented paddle-wheels,  computed  proportions,  and  sold 
enough  paintings  to  support  his  family  by  the  time  he 


was  sixteen;  Henry  Ford  started  his  mechanical  work 
at  seventeen;  Jane  Addams  was  only  six  when  she  had 
determined  what  her  life  work  would  be;  Florence 
Nightingale  at  a  very  early  age  devoted  her  attention 
to  the  illness  around  her.  And,  most  significant  of  all, 
so  sincere  was  the  desire  of  the  fourteen-year-old  Jo- 
seph Smith  to  learn  the  truth  that  his  earnest  prayer 
was  answered  by  the  appearance  of  the  Father  and 
the  Son  to  him,  resulting  in  the  establishment  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints. 

Perhaps  something  has  gone  wrong  in  the  world  of 
adults  that  young  people  are  not  given  the  encourage- 
ment to  develop  early  those  qualities  which  could  so 
easily  better  the  world.  As  parents  right  now,  the 
opportunity  presents  itself  to  give  more  responsibility 
to  these  young  people  in  learning  the  joys  and  duties  of 
family  and  community  life.  Too  often,  parents  who 
themselves  had  a  hard  time  in  their  early  life  are  guilty 
of  coddling  their  families.  They  feel  that  they  wish  to 
make  the  road  easier  for  their  children.  But  the  way 
of  progress  is  not  easy.  As  someone  so  wisely  said, 
"Drifting  is  pleasant,  but  it  is  always  downstream." 
If  the  struggle  for  an  education,  for  instance,  is  not  so 
terrific  that  the  young  people  go  down  to  defeat,  the 
actual  sacrifice  entailed  in  obtaining  the  education  will 
make  it  doubly  appreciated  when  final  attainment  is 
realized. 

There  should  be  a  goodly  amount  of  family  activity 
planned  during  this  summer,  for  the  rubber  shortage 
will  make  travel  at  a  minimum.  However,  that  need 
not  mean  that  the  joys  of  travel  cannot  be  experienced, 
for  directing  an  active  imagination  will  devise  ways  and 
means  of  capitalizing  on  this  loss. 

At  the  same  time  that  parents  are  providing  for  their 
own,  they  can  exercise  a  little  generosity  and  include 
other  young  folk  in  the  family  fun.  The  mother  whose 
husband  is  at  war  will  be  especially  appreciative  if 
some  one  else's  dad  will  only  put  his  arms  around  her 
son's  shoulders  and  "pal"  up  with  him.  The  mother 
who  works  will  feel  ever  so  grateful  if  some  one  else's 
mother  will  occasionally  arrange  an  hour  or  so  of 
recreation  in  which  her  own  daughter  can  participate. 
Those  parents  who,  meaning  well,  cannot  seem  to  put 
into  practice  their  ideas  of  wholesome  recreation  will 
receive  an  impetus  to  greater  activity  by  their  children's 
stories  of  what  they  did  in  a  neighbor's  home. 

This  task  lies  at  hand :  to  plan  so  well  in  constructive 
effort  that  the  destructive  element  has  no  chance  even 
to  enter  the  thoughts  of  young  people,  let  alone  be  given 
a  chance  for  fruition  in  delinquent  acts.  The  oppor- 
tunity lies  at  hand  to  create  better  citizens  at  the  same 
time  that  parents  create  a  happier,  more  completely 
satisfying  type  of  home  life. — M.  C.  /. 


Pioneet6—i944  StuL 


t 

HPo  all  Latter-day  Saints,  the  Twenty-fourth  of  July 
■*•  is  synonymous  with  achievement — the  culmination 
of  a  vision  strong  enough  to  carry  the  Pioneers  across 
barren  deserts  to  an  even  more  barren  alkaline  waste 
land.  The  Twenty-fourth  means  also  the  wresting  of 
the  land  from  its  devastating  drought  until  it  became 
an  oasis  of  beauty  and  rest  for  any  who  happened  to 
reach  her  shelter.  And  many  thousands  have  come  and 
found  surcease.  More  important,  this  day  means  that 
the  Pioneers  had  maintained  their  integrity,  even  in  the 
face  of  almost  overwhelming  odds. 

The  qualities  the  Pioneers  developed  did  not  die  with 
them;  they  are  to  be  found  in  abundance  in  today's 
pioneers  who  are  holding  fast  to  the  vision  of  a  new 
world,  a  world  suited  to  the  cause  which  they  have 
espoused.  For  that  vision  they  are  willing  to  withdraw 
from  the  world  of  temptation      (Concluded  on  page  466) 


444 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Evidences  and 
reconciliations 

r/ote — <Jjia  sfe5a5  C^ver  f^erfortn 
iSaptL 


I5m5 


HPhe  last  paragraph  of  the  answer  to  this  question  in 
"^    the  June  issue  should  read  as  follows : 

There  is  no  recorded  evidence  in  the  Bible,  as  trans- 
lated from  existing  manuscripts,  that  Jesus  actually  per- 
formed baptisms.  However,  the  inspired  translation  by 
the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  John  4:2,  reads:  "Now  the 
Lord  knew  this,  though  he  himself  baptized  not  so  many 
as  his  disciples."  This  accords  with  our  understanding 
of  the  mission  of  Jesus.  He  gave  authority  to  his  dis- 
ciples to  baptize,  and  no  doubt  often  directed  the  or- 
dinances. But,  certainly,  he  had  the  right  to  perform 
baptisms  if  he  so  desired.  And,  from  modern  revelation, 
as  above  quoted,  he  did  perform  baptisms. — /.  A.  W. 


amen 


t 


Ixxxll.  ^fd  the    V few  ^Jeit 
translated  cJLiterallu  f 

HPhe  art  of  translation  from  one  language  to  another 
•^  involves  many  difficulties.  Vocabularies  and  gram- 
matical constructions  differ  with  every  language.  A 
literal  or  word  for  word  translation  of  any  book,  would 
probably  fail  to  reproduce  the  original  meaning.  Cer- 
tainly, it  would  not  be  very  readable.  Here  is  an  ex- 
ample : 

The  literal  translation  of  Matt.  23:14  reads: 

But  woe  to  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites,  for  ye 
devour  the  houses  of  widows,  and  as  a  pretext  at  great  length 
praying.  Because  of  this  ye  shall  receive  more  abundant 
judgment. 

King  James'  version  renders  the  above: 

Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites!  for  ye 
devour  widows'  houses,  and  for  a  pretence  make  long  prayer: 
therefore  ye  shall  receive  the  greater  damnation. 

The  translator  must  catch  the  intended  message  of  a 
sentence  or  paragraph,  from  the  meaning  of  the  words, 
from  the  context,  and  from  his  own  feelings,  and  then 
attempt  to  reproduce  the  thought  correctly,  with  every 
inflection  of  meaning,  in  the  best  words  at  his  command; 
and  to  the  understanding  of  the  reader. 

This  makes  it  unavoidable  that  much  of  the  translator, 
himself,  remains  in  his  translation.  His  technical  knowl- 
edge, his  manner  of  language,  his  beliefs,  and  even  his 
likes  and  dislikes  are  reflected  in  his  rendering  of  a  docu- 
ment from  one  language  to  another.  For  example,  a 
person  reared  in  false  Christian  doctrine  would,  perhaps 
unconsciously,  make  the  translation  of  a  religious  writ- 
ing conform  to  his  beliefs. 

It  is  these  and  other  difficulties  that  make  it  necessary 
to  scrutinize  translations  with  greatest  care;  and  to  com- 
pare the  renderings  by  different  persons  to  come  as  near 
as  possible  to  the  original  meaning,  and  to  avoid  mis- 
leading interpretations.  The  more  important  a  book  is, 
the  more  necessary  such  care  becomes.  Therefore,  the 
New  Testament  has  been  translated  and  re-translated 
many  times.    In  every  translation  differences  are  ob- 


served that  help  clarify  the  intent  of  the  original  manu- 
scripts. 

Often,  the  student  cannot  well  fathom  the  mind  of 
the  translator.  For  example,  in  the  King  James  transla- 
tion of  the  Bible,  the  Greek  word  pneuma  is  mostly 
translated  "spirit."  When,  however,  the  word  "holy" 
( hagios )  precedes  pneuma,  the  rendering  becomes,  gen- 
erally, "Holy  Ghost."  Apparently,  the  translators  felt 
that  the  prefix  "holy,"  gave  the  word  "spirit"  the  mean- 
ing of  the  third  member  of  the  Godhead,  distinguished 
by  the  name  "Holy  Ghost."  This,  however,  led  to  in- 
consistencies, for  in  Luke  3:22,  "the  Holy  Ghost  de- 
scended," and  in  John  1:32,  "saw  the  Spirit  descend- 
ing."  Distinctions  without  differences  appear. 

It  is  more  likely  that  the  failure  to  understand  the 
distinction  between  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  influence 
which  issues  from  God,  called  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  Spirit 
of  God,  the  spirit  of  truth,  etc.,  led  the  copyists  of  the 
manuscripts  in  early  days  to  corrupt  the  text,  by  adding 
or  taking  away  the  word  "holy"  whenever  it  seemed  to 
fit  their  erroneous  theology.  Certainly,  whatever  the 
cause  of  the  various  translations  of  the  word  pneuma, 
they  have  led  to  misunderstandings  and  endless  con- 
troversy about  the  third  member  of  the  Godhead  and  his 
functions.  Recent  translations,  such  as  Goodspeed's, 
translate  the  word  pneuma,  as  "spirit"  wherever  it  oc- 
curs. For  that  matter,  the  word  ghost  is  but  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  word  for  spirit. 

The  word  pneuma  is  also  translated  as  "wind"  (John 
3:8,  "The  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth");  as  "life" 
(Rev.  13:15,  "He  had  power  to  give  life");  and  as 
"spiritual''  (I  Cor.  14:12,  "Ye  are  zealous  of  spiritual 
gifts"). 

Many  other  Greek  words  are  likewise  rendered  under 
several  English  words.  The  Greek  word  phthano  is 
translated  "prevent,"  as  in  I  Thess.  4:15,  "We  shall  not 
prevent  them."  In  other  places  it  is  rendered  "attain," 
as  in  Romans  9:31,  "Israel  hath  not  attained  to  the  law." 
(See  also  Philippians  3:16.)  The  word  psyche  is  most 
frequently  translated  "soul,"  as  in  Matt.  10:28,  "but  are 
not  able  to  kill  the  soul."  But,  it  is  nearly  as  often 
translated  "life,"  as  in  Matt.  6:25,  "Take  no  thought 
for  your  life."  Psyche  is  also  rendered  "heart,"  as  in 
Eph.  6:6,  "will  of  God  from  the  heart";  and  the  word 
becomes  "mind"  in  three  places,  as  in  Philippians  1 :27, 
"with  one  mind  striving  together."  The  word  baptizo  is 
usually  translated  "baptize";  but  it  is  also  translated 
"wash,"  as  in  Mark  7:4,  "except  they  wash,  they  eat 
not"  (see  also  Luke  11:38).  The  word  soteria  is  usually 
translated  "salvation,"  as  in  Philippians  2:12,  "Work 
out  your  own  salvation";  but  it  also  appears  as  "health," 
as  in  Acts  27:34,  "for  this  is  your  health." 

Such  diverse  translations  of  one  word  are  numerous, 
and  examples  could  be  multiplied. 

It  is  equally  interesting  to  note  that  several  Greek 
words  are  often  rendered  alike  in  English.  For  example, 
the  English  word  "law,"  in  the  New  Testament,  comes 
in  most  cases  from  nomos,  but  there  are  about  five  other 
words  translated  "law."  Twelve  or  more  different 
words  are  translated  "child";  about  twenty  are  trans- 
lated "see";  about  thirteen  are  rendered  "ordain";  ten 
or  more  are  translated  "death"  and  nine  at  least  appear 
as  "life."  Eleven  are  rendered  "minister";  eight  are 
translated  "judgment" — and  so  on  with  scores  of  ex- 
amples. 

This  is  not  surprising.  In  English  we  have  numer- 
ous synonyms,  words  that  have  very  nearly  the  same 
meaning.  For  example,  agreement,  contract,  covenant, 
compact,  and  bargain,  carry  much  the  same  idea.  So 
also  do  alarm,  terror,  fear,  fright,  consternation,  trepida- 
tion, panic,  and  apprehension.  Or  take  the  words,  belief, 
credit,  trust,  faith;  or  heavenly,  celestial,  divine,  god- 
like. When,  in  a  language,  there  is  no  exact  equivalent, 
with  the  same  shade  of  meaning,  the  translator  is  com* 

{Concluded  on  page  471 ) 


JULY,  1944 


445 


Melchizedek  Priesthood 


'jrjrjrjrjrjr, 


jr  jrjrjrjr  jr*  w  9  www  w  *  9  w  J>  jrtrw  rjrwjrjr 

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CONDUCTED   BY  THE    MELCHIZEDEK   PRIESTHOOD   COMMITTEE   OF   THE  COUNCIL  OF   THE  TWELVE — JOSEPH   FIELDING   SMITH 

CHAIRMAN;    CHARLES  A.  CALLIS,  HAROLD  B.  LEE,  EZRA  T.  BENSON,  MARION  G.  ROMNEY,  THOMAS  E.  MCKAY,  CLIFFORD 

E.  YOUNG,  ALMA  SONNE,  NICHOLAS  G.  SMITH,  LEVI  EDGAR  YOUNG,  ANTOINE  R.  IVINS,  RUFUS  K.  HARDY 


Intelligent  Leadership  Means 
Increase  in  Temple  Work 

"Deports  indicate  a  commendable  in- 
Av  crease  jn  temple  work,  particular- 
ly in  connection  with  the  current  priest- 
hood temple  project.  Although  some 
stakes  are  located  more  favorably  for 
temple  attendance,  results  invariably  in- 
dicate that  it  is  virile  and  progressive 
leadership  which  determines  the  amount 
of  temple  work  accomplished. 

Official  instructions  emphasize  that 
the  encouragement  of  attendance  at  the 
temple  is  one  of  the  major  responsibili- 
ties of  stake  and  ward  genealogical  of- 
ficers. All  appointments  for  official  bap- 
tism, endowment  and  sealing  excursions 
from  the  stake  should  be  made  through 
the  stake  committee.  Stake  and  ward 
genealogical  officials  should  utilize 
every  established  organization  and 
every  legitimate  opportunity  to  have 
effective  announcements  of  such  ap- 
pointments made  to  stimulate  and  in- 
spire Church  members  to  participate. 

Reports  follow  of  two  stakes  where 
such  leadership  is  being  effectively 
given : 

Cache  Stake 

Last  June  we  accepted  an  assignment  from 
the  temple  to  do  2700  proxy  male  endow- 
ments during  the  balance  of  1943.  We  did 
4486  and  had  many  brethren  participating 
who  had  not  previously  been  active  in  this 
work.  In  lieu  of  a  local  project  for  this  year 
we  are  accepting  the  Churchwide  project 
of  temple  work  for  every  Melchizedek 
Priesthood  member  who  desires  to  partici- 
pate. The  bishops  are  furnishing  us  with 
list  of  names  of  Melchizedek  Priesthood 
members  who  are  worthy  to  receive  temple 
recommends;  they  will  also  recommend  a 
conservative  assignment  for  each  member 
based  upon  his  capacity  to  fulfill  the  same. 
Our  committee,  as  a  part  of  the  Church  serv- 
ice committee,  will  then  help  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  a  letter  to  call  to  go  to  each  of  these 
ward  members,  assigning  them  a  temple  re- 
sponsibility in  the  form  of  so  many  proxy 
endowments  to  do.  We  are  having  the 
member  of  the  stake  presidency  in  charge 
of  our  work  sign  this  letter.  .  . . 

During  the  latter  half  of  1943  we  broke 
our  assignment  of  2700  names  down  into 
eight  units  and  gave  a  unit  to  each  ward 
on  the  basis  of  priesthood  membership. 
These  units  were  broken  down  within  each 
ward  and  given  to  the  high  priests,  seven- 
ties, and  elders.  The  work  was  done  by  a 
few.  This  experience  caused  us  to  go  direct 
to  the  individuals  worthy  to  do  temple  work 
in  our  project  for  1944.  We  hope  that  it 
will  work  out  with  greater  satisfaction. 

Brothers  Nolan  Olsen  and  Spencer  H. 
Daines  are  my  counselors  and  we  are  in 
mutual  agreement  in  our  program. 

Nolan  is  in  charge  of  our  research  pro- 
gram, since  he  was  already  directing  the 
efforts  of  a  group  of  part-time  lady  mis- 
446 


sionaries  at  our  city  library  in  the  genea- 
logical section.  Most  of  these  ladies  are 
from  Cache  Stake  and  we  have  officially  set 
them  apart  to  their  work,  in  which  they  are 
most  conscientious.  To  make  our  library 
more  of  a  drawing  card  for  our  research- 
minded  people,  we  have  made  various  at- 
tempts to  enlarge  it.  .  .  . 

Already  many  of  our  brethren  who  are 
too  busy  to  go  to  the  temple,  and  in  some 
instances  brethren  who  know  they  aren't 
worthy  to  get  a  recommend  yet,  have  made 
cash  contributions  towards  the  proxy  en- 
dowment program.  .  .  . 

We  have  found  that  our  stake  and  ward 
leaders  are  outstanding  in  recognizing  their 
responsibility  as  priesthood  members  to  go 
to  the  temple,  and  it  has  its  effect  on  other 
ward  members  who  come  to  know  of  this 
leadership  activity  and  become  aware  of 
individual  responsibility  in  Church  service. 
Excursions  from  elders'  and  seventy's  quo- 
rums are  in  frequent  evidence.  .  .  . 

All  in  all  we  recognize  we  have  a  real 
responsibility  to  fulfill  in  the  calls  made  of 


us,  but  we  are  happy  in  our  assignments. 
We  know  enough  of  human  nature  to  realize 
that  the  development  of  a  new  program  is 
gradual.  So  long  as  we  can  continue  to 
maintain  an  active  interest  and  gradual  in- 
crease in  work  accomplished,  we  shall  feel 
that  a  degree  of  progress  is  being  made.  We 
are  mindful  of  the  continued  need  for  divine 
help  and  inspiration  in  doing  such  an  impor- 
tant work. 

Rigby  Stake 

December  26  the  high  priests  visited  the 
Logan  Temple  and  did  work  for  52  names. 
Our  only  means  of  transportation  is  to  hire 
a  bus  and  that  is  difficult  to  do.  However, 
we  met  with  a  member  of  every  Mel- 
chizedek Priesthood  quorum  presidency  last 
Sunday,  along  with  a  representative  of  the 
stake  presidency  and  Church  service  com- 
mittee, and  discussed  this  work. 

On  one  excursion,  all  members  of  the 
stake  presidency,  the  stake  patriarch,  six 
high  councilmen  and  most  of  our  wives  vis- 
ited the  Logan  Temple.  Our  bishops  have 
been  cooperating  with  us  very  well.  .  .  . 


Melchizedek  Priesthood  Outline  of  Study,  September,  1944 

Text:    The  Gospel  Kingdom:  Selections  from  the 
Writings  and  Discourses  of  John  Taylor 


LESSON  33 

Foundations  of  the  Christian  Faith 

Text:  pp.  109-114.  Topics:  The  Memo- 
rial of  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 
The  Second  Advent.  Reasons  for  Christian 
Memorial  Came  by  Revelation.  Knowledge 
of  Christ  to  Come  by  Revelation.  The  Work 
of  God.  The  Diffusion  of  the  Christian 
Idea.  The  Testimony  of  Myth  and  Tradi- 
tion. Modern  Revelation  and  Knowledge 
of  the  Atonement. 

Discuss:  On  the  basis  of  all  past  lesson 
material  and  class  discussions,  treat  this 
question — What  is  the  purpose  of  the  sacra- 
ment? Why  do  we  partake?  What  new 
light  does  President  Taylor  throw  on  these 
questions  in  this  chapter?  What  clearer  un- 
derstanding of  the  meaning  and  nature  of 
the  gospel  is  to  be  had  from  the  material 
organized  under  the  heading,  "The  Diffusion 
of  the  Christian  Idea"? 

LESSONS  34-35 

The  Mediation  and  Atonement 

Text:  pp.  114-120.  Topics:  The  Posi- 
tion of  Christ.  Holds  All  Power  by  Reason 
of  the  Atonement.  Distinctions  Between  the 
Position  of  Christ  and  His  Followers.  The 
Act  of  the  Atonement.  Of  Central  Impor- 
tance. The  Suffering,  etc.  The  Power  and 
Effects  of  the  Atonement.  The  Resurrection. 
Progress  Toward  Godhood  Made  Possible, 
etc.  The  Atonement  and  the  Christian's 
Life. 

Discuss:  What  is  Christ's  position  in 
the  scheme  of  things?  Was  his  sacrifice 
necessary  to  gain  this  position?  Why  suffer- 
ing, bloodshed,  sacrifice  in  connection  with 
the  atonement?  Could  the  sacrifice  have 
been  made  in  some  other  way?  Was  an 
atonement  necessary?  Why?  (Recall  ma- 
terials in  previous  lessons,  e.g.,  concerning 


law,  Satan,  etc.)  What  are  the  results  of 
the  atonement?  Why  should  "all  things  be 
done  in  the  name  of  the  Son"?  Are  they? 
What  things  are?  What  things  are  not? 
What  difference  might  it  make  in  the  modern 
world  if  all  things  were  done  in  the  name  of 
Christ?  Should  all  things  be  done  in  his 
name?  (Recall  the  scripture:  "Not  every- 
one that  saith,  Lord,  Lord  .  .  ."  and  its 
warning   about  insincere  performance.) 

LESSON  36 

The  Restoration  of  the  Gospel  and 
the  Keys  of  the  Priesthood 

Text:  pp.  121-126.  Topics:  Joseph 
Smith.  Referred  to  the  Son.  Principles  and 
Priesthood.  Keys  of  the  Gathering.  The 
Purpose  of  the  Restoration.  To  Gather  an 
Upright  People.  To  Bring  Life  and  Im- 
mortality to  Light.  To  Make  Men  Free. 
To  Introduce  the  Rule  and  Government 
of  God  on  Earth.  Joseph  Smith  as  a  Re- 
storer. Joseph's  Own  Story.  Joseph's  Tes- 
timony to  John  Taylor.  Need  for  the  Re- 
storation. 

Discuss:  (This  lesson  concludes  the  ma- 
terial in  Book  II,  "The  Gospel  Message," 
and  leads  naturally  into  Book  III,  "Priest- 
hood: The  Government  of  God.")  Could 
the  gospel  have  been  restored  without 
priesthood?  What  of  this  statement  (p. 
122):  "The  people  that  are  independent, 
who  think  they  can  get  along  without  re- 
ligion or  without  God,  will  find  that  in  time 
or  eternity  they  will  have  to  come  to  the 
priesthood  of  God."  What  was  the  pur- 
pose of  the  Restoration?  What  is  "the  rule 
and  government  of  God  on  earth"?  Was 
the  gospel  restored  to  bring  such  rule  about? 
This  being  true,  what  forces  or  agencies  be- 
sides sectarian  churches  might  have  been 
expected  to  oppose  the  rise  of  Mormonism? 
Why?  Need  they  have  feared? 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


NO-LIQUOR-TOBACCO 
COLUMN 

Conducted  by 
Dr.  Joseph  F.  Merrill 


How  to  Cure  the  Smoking  Habit 

Would  you  like  to  stop  smoking — 
overcome  the  habit?  If  so,  we  in- 
vite you  to  read  the  interesting  article 
by  Doctor  L.  W.  Oaks,  printed  on  p. 
429  in  this  issue  of  the  Era.  The  doc- 
tor, who  writes  authoritatively,  is  an 
outstanding  practitioner  in  Provo,  Utah. 
He  is  very  sympathetic  with  the  smoker 
who  really  would  like  to  give  up  the 
habit  but  finds  it  difficult  to  do  so.  Hence 
Doctor  Oaks  has  taken  time  out  to 
write  up  the  most  helpful  suggestions 
the  experts  have  been  able  to  make. 
Among  all  these  suggestions  surely 
every  smoker  desiring  to  quit  the  habit 
will  find  one  or  more  of  them  suited  to 
his  case. 

But  there  is  an  unfailing,  powerful 
help  that  the  doctor  does  not  name.  It 
is  prayer — sincere,  worthy  prayer.  The 
Lord  will  surely  not  turn  away  the  to- 
bacco addict  who  will  worthily  and 
persistently  seek  his  help.  This  means 
the  smoker  who  makes  up  his  mind  to 
quit  and  sticks  to  his  resolution,  in  the 
meantime  praying  earnestly  that  the 
Lord  will  take  away  the  desire  to  smoke, 
will  not  be  let  down.  Yes,  will  power 
and  God's  help  combined  enable  any 
smoker  to  overcome  his  enslaving  habit. 

And  how  great  the  joy  of  him  who 
finds  that  he  is  free  once  again!  "I  will," 
is  the  battle  cry  of  achievement. 

Doctor  Oaks'  article  will  be  re- 
printed in  pamphlet  form  and  a  copy 
sent  free  on  request  to  all  applicants. 
Address  No-Liquor-Tobacco  Commit- 
tee, Church  Office  Building,  Salt  Lake 
City  l,Utah. 

Teachers  and  Smoking 

Xn  the  June  issue  of  the  Reader  s  Diigest 
is  published  a  condensed  article  by  a 
professor  in  an  eastern  university,  en- 
titled, "Revolt  in  the  Classroom."  The 
writer  deplores  the  fact  that  many 
teachers  have  left  the  classroom  during 
recent  years  for  other  more  remunera- 
tive work.  But  among  the  reasons  given 
by  the  writer  for  the  change  in  employ- 
ment are  the  following:  "Communities 
have  been  infinitely  ingenious  in  de- 
vising ways  to  make  the  life  of  the 
teacher  unpleasant.  They  have  forbid- 
den him  to  smoke,  drink,  swear,  dance, 
live  in  a  hotel,  play  pool  or  take  part 
in  politics,  and  so  on  ad  nauseam.  In 
general,  communities  have  forced  the 
teacher  to  be  a  model  of  all  the  nega- 
tive virtues." 

One  of  the  things  surprising  to  us  in 
this  statement  is  the  assertion  that  moral 
virtues  are  negative.  How  long  since  did 
tkis  come  to  be?  To  drift  downstream 
is  easier  than  to  row  upstream.  "When 
in  Rome  do  as  the  Romans  do"  is  the 
easy,  the  worldly  way  to  behave,  not  the 
courageous,  the  moral  way  to  act.  Most 
youths  (and  other  people,  too)  begin  to 

JULY,  1944 


smoke,  drink,  swear,  etc.,  because  they 
lack  the  moral  courage  to  refrain  when 
others  indulge. 

Now  it  is  a  demonstrated,  scientific 
fact  that  smoking  and  drinking  are  posi- 
tively harmful,  physically,  mentally,  and 
spiritually,  to  the  normal  person,  espe- 
cially to  the  youth.  So,  many  states 
have  passed  laws  requiring  that  the 
youth  in  public  schools  shall  be  taught 
the  harmful  effects  of  alcohol,  tobacco, 
and  other  narcotics.  Also  school  and 
college  athletic  coaches  all  over  the 
country  prohibit  their  boys  in  training 
from  smoking,  drinking,  etc. 

There  are  two  general  methods  of 
teaching  conduct — precept  and  exam- 
ple. Of  the  two,  it  is  generally  conceded 
that  example  is  the  far  more  effective 
method.  "I'd  rather  see  a  sermon  any 
day  than  hear  one"  states  a  generally 
accepted  truth.  Further,  "I  cannot  hear 
what  you  say  because  what  you  are 
rings  so  loudly  in  my  ears." 

We  most  heartily  commend  school 
authorities  for  asking  their  teachers  to 
abstain  from  indulgences  that  would  be 
harmful  to  their  students.  Virtues  can 
best  be  taught  by  example. 
«  ♦  ■ 

Letter  to 

Stake  Presidencies 

(Concluded  from  page  441) 
girls  to  be  active  in  existing  organiza- 
tions. The  committee  should  not  plan 
or  promote  activities  for  the  girls  except 
those  sponsored  by  one  or  more  of  these 
organizations.  There  are  to  be  no 
classes  or  activities  planned  for  the  girls 
outside  of  the  existing  organizations. 
This  is  a  matter  which  should  be  closely 
guarded,  for  the  tendency  will  other- 
wise develop  to  have  social  and  other 
activities  independent  of  existing  or- 
ganizations. 

In  the  stakes  where  the  girl  checking 
plan  has  reached  every  girl  the  results 
are  very  satisfactory.  The  attendance 
at  organization  and  sacrament  meetings, 
the  payment  of  tithing  and  all  other  ac- 
tivities relating  to  the  girls  as  Latter- 
day  Saints  have  greatly  improved  and 
increased. 

In  a  recent  report  from  Granite  Stake 
we  read: 

We  have  had  an  average  of  approximate- 
ly 558  girls  ages  12-20  inclusive  on  record 
in  Granite  Stake.  Using  this  number  as  a 
base  we  have  made  the  following  observa- 
tions: 35%  of  these  girls  attended  sacra- 
ment meeting  during  the  year  1943;  61% 
of  the  same  group  were  present  in  Sunday 
Schools  of  the  stake;  71%  of  all  these  girls 
are  on  the  records  of  the  Church  as  tithe 
payers,  308  of  this  number  being  reported 
as  full  tithe  payers  and  90  reported  as  part 
tithe  payers.  (This  group  of  girls  paid  a 
total  of  $8,150.42  in  tithing  during  the  year 
1943.)  In  the  month  of  February  1944,  of 
the  558  girls  62%  are  shown  to  have  been 
present  in  Sunday  School,  43%  were  pre- 
sent each  Sunday  in  sacrament  meeting,  and 
45%  attended  Mutual.  In  the  public  eve- 
ning session  of  our  stake  conference  held 
March  12,  1944,  under  the  presidency  of 
Bishop  LeGrand  Richards,  53%  of  all  the 
teen  age  girls  of  Granite  Stake  were  present. 
A  feature  of  the  program  was  the  "Binding 
of  the  Gleaner  Girl  Sheaf."  One  hundred 
thirty  girls  participated  in   this  ceremony. 


This  means  that  every  girl  of  Gleaner  age, 
not  properly  exempted,  has  been  enrolled  in 
Mutual. 

We  submit  the  plan  to  you  for  your 
study  and  adoption  with  such  modifica- 
tions as  your  conditions  and  circum- 
stances may  wisely  warrant.  However, 
two  things  are  to  be  kept  in  mind:  the 
committee  set-ups  ( 1 )  shall  be  kept  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  stake  presidency 
and  ward  bishoprics  and  thus  the  tend- 
ency to  develop  independent  activities 
shall  not  develop,  and  (2)  the  lady 
workers  shall  be  chosen  because  of  their 
qualifications  to  work  sympathetically, 
continually,  and  effectively  to  the  end 
that  a  check  shall  be  maintained  on 
every  girl  between  the  age  of  12  and 
20  who  is  a  member  of  the  Church. 
Sincerely  your  brethren, 

Council  of  the  Twelve, 
George  Albert  Smith, 
President. 


The  Church  Moves  On 

( Continued  from  page  44 1 ) 

Cheever,  Payson,  Utah;  Stratford  Evans,  Logan,  Utah; 
Delbert  Lorenzo  Jex,  Santa  Monica,  California;  Bronzel 
LaBriel  Pickett,  Gunnison,  Utah;  Nathaniel  Carling 
Young,  Kanab,  Utah;  Gerald  Eldon  Melchin,  Winni- 
peg, Manitoba,  Canada;  Fulton  Woodruff  Bevans, 
Cardston,  Alia.,  Canada;  William  Love  Nalder,  Ray- 
mond, Alta.,  Canada;  James  Niels  Skousen,  Jr., 
Chandler,  Arizona;  Elmer  Earl  Wilde,  Welling,  Alta., 
Canada. 

Eastern:  John  Hayes  Moore,  Spanish  Fork,  Utah; 
William  Nibley  Wale,  Salt  Lake  City;  Conway  Welch 
Dunn,  Logan,  Utah;  Greenland  Cadman  Simpson, 
Sacramento,  California;  Lawrence  Edward  Taylor, 
Bakersfleld.  California;  Edgar  Thatcher  Rolapp,  North 
Hollywood,  California;  Ray  Bailey  Barker,  Ogden, 
Utah;   Fred   Russell  Green,  Salt  Lake  City. 

East  Central:  Norman  J.  Andrew,  Trenton,  Utah; 
Mrs.  Ruby  Adelia  Harper  Andrew.  Trenton,  Utah. 

Hawaiian:  Ray  James  Hill.  Ogden,  Utah;  Scott  Al- 
len Petersen,   Tremonton,   Utah. 

New  England:  Douglas  Jolley  Hardy,  Salt  Lake 
City;  Golden  Atkin  Buchmiller,  Rexburg,  Idaho;  Leo 
Winfleld  Hurst,  Declo,  Idaho;  Don  Frithiof  Johnson, 
Shelley,  Idaho;  Willard  Bovee  Mecham,  Mt.  Emmons, 
Utah;  David  George  Nelson,  III,  Snowville.  Utah; 
Kenneth  Winder  Porter,  Monroe,  Utah;  Frank  Ben- 
nion  Redd,  Monticello,  Utah;  George  Rogers  Hawkes, 
Preston,   Idaho. 

Northern  California:  Spencer  Rock  Pugh,  Murray, 
Utah;  George  Shelton  Standage,  Mesa,  Arizona;  David 
Alma  Stewart,  Kaysville,  Utah;  Rodney  Davell  Peter- 
sen, Venice,  California;  Emer  Huffaker  Wilson,  Mid- 
way,  Utah. 

Northern  States:  Grant  Morgan  Bosworth,  Salt  Lake 
City;  Hermen  Rudolph  Carpenter,  Park  City,  Utah; 
Marion  Duff  Hanks,  Salt  Lake  City;  Spencer  T.  Rees, 
Loa,  Utah;  George  Ashton  Richards,  Oakley,  Idaho; 
Scott  Haskell  Smith,  Greybull,  Wyoming;  Mervin 
Norman  Salvesen,  Hyrum,  Utah;  Robert  Eugene 
Thompson,  Salt  Lake  City. 

North  Central:  Reid  Jay  Bodine,  Phoenix,  Arizona; 
James  Keith  Anderson,  Spanish  Fork,  Utah;  Lynn 
Balls,  Hyde  Park,  Utah;  Jess  Charles  Bennett,  Holden, 
Utah;  Van  Odell  Call,  Ogden,  Utah;  Willard  Richards 
Card,  Salt  Lake  City;  Ted  Clifford  Smith,  Bountiful, 
Utah;  James  Arthur  Timothy,  Altonah,  Utah;  Heber 
Jacob  Zollinger,  Sublett,  Idaho;  David  Clayton  Bishop, 
Delta,  Utah;  Merlin  Norton  Cook,  Willard.  Utah. 

Northwestern:  James  LeGrand  Bradby,  Tetonia, 
Idaho;  Dwayne  Timothy  Johnson,  Vernal,  Utah;  Don- 
ald Benjamin  Koller,  Salt  Lake  City;  Cornelius  Wright 
Nielsen,  Salt  Lake  City;  Thirl  William  Tew,  Maple- 
ton,  Utah;  Archibald  Gardner  Widdison,  Hooper, 
Utah;  Thyrald  Harris  Finn,  Rigby,  Idaho;  William 
Robert  Hatch;  Boise,  Idaho;  Delbert  Norman  Nelson, 
Howell,  Utah;  Paul  Delos  Campbell,  Phoenix,  Ari- 
zona;   George  Kay  Oldroyd,   Loa,  Utah. 

Southern:  Orson  William  Lauritzen,  El  Monte, 
California;  Vyrin  King  Orr.  Paris,  Idaho;  Victor 
Henry  Wathen,  Bluebell,  Utah;  Catherine  Brady  Jen- 
sen, Salt  Lake  City;  James  Christian  Jensen,  Salt  Lake 
City;  Arthur  Willis  Smith,  Monroe,  Utah;  Reese  Baird 
Sessions,  Idaho  Falls,  Idaho;  Jack  Hill  Coburn,  Ox- 
ford, Idaho;  Jack  Northman  Anderson,  Cottonwood, 
Salt  Lake  County,  Utah;  Earl  Franklin  Updike,  Phoe- 
nix, Arizona;  Francis  Marion  Gibbons,  Phoenix,  Ari- 
zona;  Lamont  James   Johns,   Ogden,    Utah. 

Spanish-American:  Julia  Griffin,  Clarkston,  Utah; 
Melvin  Miller  Hansen,  Monroe,  Utah;  Grange  Camp- 
bell Goff.  Lorenzo,  Idaho;  Marion  Heath  Hill,  Sacra- 
mento. California;  Ralph  Alvin  Taylor,  Mendon,  Utah. 

Texas:  Lyle  Rigby  Cooley.  Newton,  Utah;  Hale 
Burt  Seeley,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Utah;  Nathaniel  Keller. 
Mink  Creek,  Idaho;  Norman  Earl  Ricks,  Teton,  Idaho; 

( Concluded  on  page  452 ) 
447 


Aaronic  Priesthood 


'><««««««««««4««<<«««««««««<«*«<*««* 


CONDUCTED    UNDER  THE   SUPERVISION    OF   THE   PRESIDING   BISHOPRIC.     EDITED    BY  LEE  A.    PALMER. 


WARD  BOY  LEADERSHIP 

COMMITTEE  OUTLINE  OF  STUDY 

AUGUST,  1944 

Text:  HOW  TO  WIN  BOYS 

Chapter  XX:  A  "Do"  Program 

Quotations  from  the  Text: 

1.  Boys  are  held  to  religious  life  by  a  do 
program  in  their  own  lives.  Nothing 
produces  loyalty  like  activity. 

2.  In  the  do  program  you  must  use  every 
tack  possible  in  your  discovery  of 
potential  abilities.  I've  located  talent 
by  talking  to  day-school  teachers,  to 
parents,  and  to  a  boy's  close  friends 
who  make  up  his  crowd. 

3.  Wise  teachers  ace  alert  to  signs  of  na~ 
tive  leadership. 

4.  My  family  would  tell  you  that  of  my 
half-dozen  hobbies,  my  first  hobby  is 
the  search  [or  talent.  I  like  to  try  to 
outguess  people.  I  like  to  locate  ability 
where  nobody  else  has  seen  it.  You  get 
that  hobby  and  you'll  build  an  inven- 
tory of  youth  that  thrills  the  Church. 

5.  Whatever  personal  success  with  boys 
I  have  ever  had  has  not  been  due  to 
ability  but  to  a  certain  uncanny  knack 
of  making  boys  run  themselves.  To 
that  end,  in  my  own  class  work  I've 
never  yet  done  more  than  be  leader  of 
class  discussions.  The  "chores"  were 
done  by  members  of  my  classes.  That 
so  trained  leadership  that  one  boy  went 
into  the  deep  hills  of  the  Cumberland 
range,  back  among  his  own  illiterate 
people  and  forty  miles  from  a  railroad 
started  the  first  Sunday  School  in  that 
section.  The  whole  truth  is  that  I 
started  something  that  was  probably 
more  important  than  the  thing  that  I, 
myself,  was  doing.  That  is  what  all 
of  this  comes  to.  The  ripples  of  service 
finally  find  themselves  on  distant 
shores.  It  gives  one  a  thrill  to  know 
this,  doesn't  it? 

6.  My  youthful  leaders  were  trained  for 
jobs.  We  sent  lieutenants  into  room- 
ing houses,  hotels,  homes.  They  found 
out  why  members  were  missing.  They 
brought  word  of  sickness.  They 
brought  in  delinquent  members.  They 
brought  in  new  members.  I  never 
knowingly  located  a  true  leader  that 
I  did  not  straddle  him  right  into  a  job. 

7.  No  John  Dillinger  was  ever  given  a 
boyhood  do  program.  He  heard  only 
a  series  of  shouted  don'ts! 

8.  To  locate  and  use  boys'  talents  not 
only  gives  them  a  positive  Christian 
action  program  of  living,  but  it  is  the 
world's  greatest  spiritual  wall  against 
evil  and  inaction.  God  help  us  all  to 
k^ep  on  building  men  for  God's  vast 
tomorrows! 

Helps  for  the  Class  Leader: 

1.  Discuss  thoroughly  the  author's  sug- 
gestion of  a  "black  and  white"  inven- 
tory of  talents. 

2.  Demonstrate  the  use  to  which  such  in- 
ventory of  talents  may  be  placed 
through  the  agency  of  our  Church  or- 
ganizations. 

3.  Is  there  an  actual  "Do"  program  for 
boys  in  your  ward? 

448 


(xJPi&iL  Sbwudstiidu  3bwuL 


AARONIC  PRIESTHOOD  LEADERS,   MIDVALE  FIRST  WARD,  EAST  JORDAN  STAKE 

Left  to  right:  Robert  Mortey,  deacons'  adviser;  Lawrence  Mineer,  ward  clerk;  Elmo  Sager,  deacons'  adviser; 
Henry  Wahlqttist,  second  counselor  to  bishop;  Cecil  Douglas,  teachers'  adviser;  Frank  Griffiths,  first  counselor 
to  bishop;  Louis  Monson,  general  secretary;  H.  G.  Tempest,  bishop,  and  priests'  adviser;  Sid  Arnold,  deacons' 
adviser. 


"Dishop  Henry  G.  Tempest  and  his 
**"*  Aaronic  Priesthood  leaders  point  the 
way  and  the  boys  follow  their  leader- 
ship as  witness  the  following  attendance 
records  at  priesthood  during  the  entire 
year  1943: 

Priests  i 

Ray  Brown,  85%;  Raymond  Wan- 
berg,  85%;  Marvin  Buckley,  77%. 

Teachers : 

David  Bates,  94%;  Glendon  Camp- 
bell, 94%;  Richard  Olson,  94%0;  Rich- 
ard Vincent,  92%;  Donald  Buckley, 
90%;  Tommie  Stowe,  90%;  Shirl 
Sandstrom,  88%;  Clark  Jones,  83%; 
Nelson  Buck,  81%;  Kenneth  Wanberq, 
81%. 

.Deacons: 

Billie  Buck,  88%;  Robert  Strong, 
88%;  Allen  Jensen,  80%;  Shirl  Kirk, 
75%;  Melvin  Mitchell,  75%;  Jack 
Webster,  75%. 

Some  of  the  reasons  for  success  in 
this  work  are  set  forth  by  Louis  Mon- 
son, general  secretary,  as  follows: 

"The  Mid  vale  First  Ward  conducted 
a  successful  Aaronic  Priesthood  pro- 
gram during  1943. 

"We  attribute  our  success  to  follow- 
ing the  prescribed  program  suggested 
by  the  Presiding  Bishopric.  We  reli- 
giously hold  our  monthly  ward  boy 
leadership  committee  meeting.  We 
also  hold  regular  council  meetings  with 
the  general  secretary,  quorum  advisers, 
and  quorum  officers  in  attendance.  A 
social  at  least  once  each  month  is  very 
helpful. 

"Each  member  of  the  bishopric  super- 
vises the  activities  of  his  respective 
group,  and  in  close  cooperation  with  the 


general  secretary  and  the  quorum  ad- 
visers. 

"All  five  quorums  in  the  ward  quali- 
fied for  the  Standard  Quorum  Award. 
The  average  attendance  at  quorum 
meeting  for  the  entire  year  was  66%, 
Standard  Quorum  enrollment. 

"A  total  of  $530.00  tithing  was  paid 
by  the  group,  with  98%  of  the  boys 
participating.  The  deacons  produced 
113  pounds  of  dressed  rabbit  for  the 
Church  welfare  program. 

"Under  the  direction  of  Robert  Mor- 
ley,  one  of  the  advisers  to  the  deacons' 
quorums,  a  chorus  was  organized  out  of 
which  a  double  quartet  and  a  quartet 
were  also  selected.  These  boys  sing 
regularly  at  ward  and  stake  functions." 

On  the  last  Sunday  of  each  year. 
Bishop  Tempest  and-  his  co-workers 
hold  an  award  program.  Here  the 
priests,  teachers,  and  deacons  meet  in 
a  group  for  a  fine  spiritual  program  and 
the  presentation  of  special  awards 
presented  to  young  men  with  outstand- 
ing records  in  the  various  phases  of 
the  program. 

Another  splendid  example  of  what 
can  be  done  with  boys  when  leadership 
points  the  way. 


yojdk.  Spwkdu 


"WHAT  A  BOY  LIKES  IN  A  PRIEST- 
HOOD LEADER" 

T  like  a  priesthood  leader  who  is  friend- 
ly, a  fellow  who  greets  you  with  a 
smile,  shakes  hands,  and  has  some 
friendly  conversation  whenever  he 
meets  you.   A  friendly  leader  gets  your 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Ward  Teaching 


:<««*«««««««««««««««««««  <-«<  <««<« 


CONDUCTED    UNDER   THE    SUPERVISION    OF   THE   PRESIDING   BISHOPRIC.     EDITED    BY   LEE  A.    PALMER. 


confidence  and  helps  you  with  your 
problems.  A  boy  won't  go  back  on  a 
friend,  so  a  friendly  leader  helps  his 
boys  to  do  right  whether  he  is  with  them 
or  not. 

I  like  a  leader  who  is  interesting,  one 
who  studies  the  lesson  before  coming  to 
class  and  finds  things  to  illustrate  each 
point.  An  interesting  leader  knows  his 
boys  and  the  things  that  will  hold  their 
attention.  He  makes  the  lessons  fit  our 
experiences. 

I  like  a  leader  who  has  understanding, 
one  who  is  sympathetic  when  we  are  in 
trouble  and,  in  turn,  shares  our  fun  when 
we  are  happy.  An  understanding  leader 


CHARLES  PETER  WARNICK 

Charles  is  president  of  the  Deacons'  Quorum, 
Denver  Second  Ward,  Denver  Stake.  He  delivered 
the  address  printed  here  during  a  stake  quarterly 
conference.  His  younger  brother,  Reed,  is  also 
shown  in  the  photograph. 


places  himself  in  our  position  and  sees 
things  from  our  point  of  view.  He  never 
embarrasses  a  boy  but  always  makes 
him  feel  that  he  is  in  the  right  place  at 
the  right  time. 

A  leader  who  knows  what  he  is  talk- 
ing about  soon  gains  a  boy's  ■  interest 
and  respect.  We  all  like  to  feel  that  our 
teacher  is  an  authority  and  that  there 
is  no  need  to  question  anything  he  says. 
Boys  don't  respect  a  leader  unless  they 
feel  that  he  knows  more  than  they  do 
and  that  they  can  depend  on  what  he 
tells  them  as  being  true. 

I  like  a  priesthood  leader  who  is 
humble,  one  who  doesn't  strut  or  show 
off.  I  don't  like  a  boaster,  but  I  do  like 
a  leader  who  makes  me  feel  somewhere 
near  his  equal  and  that  he  can  learn 
from  me,  too. 

I  like  a  leader  who  is  cheerful  and 
looks  on  the  sunny  side  of  life.  No  one 
wants  to  be  around  a  grouch  or  a  leader 
who  can't  ever  seem  to  smile  without 
unusual  effort. 

I  like  a  leader  who  is  sincere,  who 
practices  what  he  preaches,  who  doesn't 
He  or  cheat.  A  leader  who  is  sincere  gets 
under  our  skin  and  stirs  our  emotions. 

JULY,  1944 


WARD  TEACHERS 

The  teacher's  duty  is  to  watch  oyer  the  church  always,  and  be  with  and 
strengthen  them; 

And  see  that  there  is  no  iniquity  in  the  church,  neither  hardness  with 
each  other,  neither  lying,  backbiting,  nor  evil  speaking; 

And  see  that  the  church  meet  together  often,  and  also  see  that  all  the 
members  do  their  duty.    (D.  &  C.  20:53-55.) 

Warn  UeackeH    rl/le55a<je  for  ^Jruffbist,   1944 

SECRET  PRAYER 

TJTis  heart  was  heavy.  The  time  of  His  betrayal  was  near  at  hand.  The 
■*■  *•  curtain  of  mortal  life  was  soon  to  be  drawn.  A  full  realization  of  the 
climax  to  his  earthly  mission  was  pounding  upon  his  consciousness.  He 
knew! 

Though  he  was  a  God;  though  the  earth,  the  sea,  and  even  life  itself 
were  the  products  of  his  creative  power,  how  he  longed  for  the  support 
which  could  come  only  from  his  Father  in  heaven. 

Gethsemane — it  was  quiet,  peaceful.  Wearily,  but  expectantly,  he 
trudged  toward  the  garden.  His  disciples  followed  as  if  to  protect  him. 
Though  he  appreciated  their  faithful  interest  in  his  welfare,  that  which  he 
sought  was  far  beyond  their  power  to  give.  He  bade  them  "tarry."  He 
wanted  to  commune  with  his  Father.  He  "fell  on  his  face,  and  prayed," — 
alone. 

Jesus  has  not  only  set  before  us  the  example,  but  he  has  also  given  us 
instructions  in  the  matter  of  secret  prayer,  saying,  "But  thou,  when  thou 
prayest,  enter  into  thy  closet,  and  when  thou  hast  shut  thy  door,  pray  to  thy 
Father  which  is  in  secret;  and  thy  Father  which  seeth  in  secret  shall  reward 
thee  openly."  (Matt.  6:6.) 

Jesus  recognized  the  great  power  coming  through  secret  prayer.  He 
was  anxious  that  all  men  be  instructed  in  this  principle.  It  had  blessed  and 
comforted  him — it  would  do  likewise  for  others. 

When  shall  we  pray?  Shall  we  wait  for  the  exigencies  of  war,  the 
pinch  of  poverty,  the  dread  of  disease,  or  the  fear  of  death,  to  crowd  upon 
us  before  we  seek  the  Lord  in  prayer?  Should  these  and  kindred  needs  be 
the  only  spur  that  sends  us  to  our  knees? 

What  about  those  who  now  enjoy  an  unprecedented  degree  of  pros- 
perity? Have  they  need  for  the  Lord's  help?  Do  they  have  any  need  for 
prayer — secret  prayer? 

The  answer  is  obvious  to  the  thinking  mind.  There  is  not  one  single 
thing  ordained  for  the  blessing  and  comfort  of  man  which  is  not  God's  to 
give — or  to  withhold.  Man's  obligations  to  the  Lord  are  clearly  defined. 
The  truly  Christian  soul  will  bow  reverently  each  day  in  thanksgiving  for 
blessings  received  and  pray  for  blessings  needed. 

The  secret  prayer  of  a  father,  a  mother,  a  son,  a  daughter,  whether  old 
or  young,  rich  or  poor,  happy  or  sad,  is  a  sure  anchor  to  the  salvation  of  the 
soul,  for  it  is  linked  to  the  throne  of  God. 

Yes,  let  us  pray  as  Jesus  did, — always,  and  so  teach  our  children. 


What  he  says  we  remember  and  believe. 
I  like  a  leader  who  has  a  sense  of 
humor,  a  fellow  who  can  appreciate  a 
good  joke  even  though  it  might  some- 
times be  at  his  own  expense.  Boys  like 
to  feel  free  with  their  leaders.  They 
don't  want  to  feel  afraid  or  that  they 
must  guard  every  word  or  act.  If  their 
leader  has  a  sense  of  humor,  boys  soon 
learn  that  they  won't  be  blamed   for 


every  little  mistake,  and  they  will  take 
a  chance  in  answering  a  question  or  do- 
ing an  assignment,  even  though  they  are 
not  sure  they  are  exactly  right. 

Most  of  all,  I  like  a  leader  who  com- 
mands my  respect.  I  want  him  to  be 
successful  in  his  work — honest  in  what 
he  says  and  does — and  someone  who 
and  will  correct  me  when  I 


can 


wrong. 


am 


449 


Homing 


<  €  «  <  «  ««  €<4*4«<*««<<  €<« 


^V 


idtu 


uaaeduond 

ON  STORAGE  OF 
CANNED  FOODS 


Issued  by  the  General  Church  Welfare 
Committee 

Bulletin  No.  9 

Since  pioneer  days,  our  people  have 
been  counseled  by  their  leaders 
"to  have  a  year's  supply  of  essen- 
tial foodstuffs  ahead.  This  should  so  far 
as  possible,  be  produced  by  each  house- 
holder and  preserved  by  him." 

A  part  of  these  foodstuffs  are  canned 
foods.  The  question  frequently  arises 
as  to  the  length  of  time  these  foods  can 
be  safely  stored  in  containers  manufac- 
tured under  wartime  restrictions.  An- 
swering this  question  Dr.  R.  W.  Pilcher, 
of  the  Research  Department  of  the 
American  Can  Company,  has  said : 

The  introduction  of  so  many  possible 
variables  in  the  canning  procedure  makes  it 
difficult  to  issue  a  definite  statement  on  the 
service  life  of  the  various  canned  products. 

Although  the  shelf  life  of  cans  is  not  quite 
as  long  as  pre-war,  yet  with  ordinary  care 
in  handling  and  processing,  cans  should  give 
service  almost  equal  to  former  years.  At 
best,  the  shelf  life  of  the  highly  pigmented 
fruits,  (black  and  red  cherries,  berries, 
prunes  and  plums),  is  limited  and  these 
products  should  not  be  stored  for  longer 
than  one  year.  Vegetables  such  as  aspara- 
gus, beets,  carrots,  green  beans,  tomatoes, 
spinach  and  greens  have  a  shelf  life  of  ap- 
proximately two  years.  The  shelf  life  of 
such  vegetables  as  peas,  corn  and  lima  beans 
is  considerably  longer. 

Cases  or  cans  of  milk  should  be  turned 
over  every  thirty  days  to  prevent  the  fats 
from  separating,  and  the  product  should  be 
consumed  within  a  year. 

Reports  indicate  that  it  has  been  the 
experience  of  some  housewives  that 
canned  goods  properly  processed  and 
sealed  in  pre-war  cans,  and  kept  under 
good  storage  conditions,  may  be  kept 
for  periods  longer  than  two  years.  Some 
have  gone  so  far  as  to  say  that  meats 
properly  canned  and  stored  have  a  shelf 
life  of  from  three  to  five  years. 

Canned  goods  should  be  stored  in  a 
cool,  dry  place.  The  cooler  and  dryer 
the  canned  goods  are  kept,  the  longer 
they  will  last.  Place  the  oldest  canned 
goods  to  the  front  of  the  shelves,  and 
use  them  first.  Fruits  and  vegetables 
and  meats  properly  processed  in  glass 
jars  and  stored  in  the  home  will  keep  in 
a  cool,  dark,  dry  place  fully  as  long  as 
canned  goods,  and  some  fruits,  such  as 
the  highly  pigmented,  will  keep  longer. 

In  determining  what  to  can,  careful 
consideration  should  be  given  to  stocks 
on  hand. 

450 


The  utmost  care  should  be  taken  to  see 
that  foodstuffs  produced  and  preserved  by 
the  householder  do  not  spoil  for  that  would 
be  waste,  and  the  Lord  looks  with  disfavor 
upon  waste.  He  has  blessed  his  people  with 
abundant  crops.  The  promise  for  this  year 
(1942)  is  most  hopeful.  The  Lord  is  doing 
his  part;  he  expects  us  to  do  ours."  (From 
the  "Message  of  the  First  Presidency,"  given 
at  the  April  Conference,  1942.  See  Era, 
p.  272,  May  1942.) 

Additional  copies  of  this  bulletin  will 
be  sent  upon  request. 

■—Photograph  by  Paul  S.  Bieler 


The  Management  of 
the  Bad  Boy 

By  Mary  S.  Kinney 

A  boy  is  very  imperfect.  Therefore, 
■*"*  he  is  very  interesting.  One  won- 
ders whether  he  will  become  a  savage 
or  a  seer,  a  bandit  or  a  knight-errant. 

To  understand  him  one  must  go  be- 
neath the  surface.  His  hidden  life  is  his 
real  life.  His  real  life  does  not  consist 
in  being,  but  in  the  process  of  becoming. 

What  he  is  to  be  can  be  seen  only 
by  the  eye  of  faith.  One  must  see  into 
the  future  and  find  evidence  of  things 
not  seen  in  a  mere  word,  a  softened 
look,  or  even  without  any  exterior  at  all. 

One  should  be  chummy  with  him  and 
get  close  to  his  heart.  Right  contact 
with  joyous  activities,  good  books,  pic- 
tures, company,  pleasant  surroundings, 
love,  and  sympathy  help  make  up  the 
proper  forces  and  facts  in  bending  the 
boy  to  the  right  direction  in  which  the 
man  should  grow. 

A  positive,  powerful  force  for  good 
in  the  boy's  life  is  the  acquaintance  and 
love  for  the  perfect  character  of  Jesus, 
"What  a  boy  knows  is  not  so  important 


as  what  he  loves,"  says  Dr.  William 
Hyde.  "The  greatest  part  of  what  he 
knows,  he  will  speedily  forget.  What 
he  loves,  he  will  feed  on.  His  hunger 
will  prompt  his  effort  to  increase  nis 
store."  It  is  the  thoughts  of  the  boy 
and  the  things  that  he  loves  which  shape 
the  future  man. 

President  James  A.  Garfield  once  said, 
"I  feel  a  pro  founder  reverence  for  a  boy 
than  a  man.  I  never  meet  a  ragged  boy 
on  the  street  without  feeling  I  owe  him 
a  salute,  for  I  know  not  what  possibili- 
ties may  be  buttoned  up  under  his  shab- 
by coat." 

On  the  tomb  of  Schubert,  the  great 
musician,  is  written,  "He  gave  much,  but 
he  promised  more";  and  it  is  this  im- 
measurable wealth  of  promise  that 
makes  the  lives  of  boys  so  full  of  beau- 
ty, of  interest,  of  wonder,  and  of  power. 

Handy  Hints 

Payment  for  Handy  Hints  used  will  be 
one  dollar  upon  publication.  In  the  event 
that  two  with  the  same  idea  are  submitted, 
the  one  postmarked  earlier  will  receive  the 
dollar.  None  of  the  ideas  can  be  returned, 
but  each  will  receive  careful  consideration. 


If  you  have  trouble  keeping  double 
blankets  from  pulling  up  at  the  bottom,  try 
running  a  cotton  clothes  line  rope  or  heavy 
string  through  the  fold  of  the  blanket  at  the 
foot  of  the  bed  and  fasten  securely  at  each 
side. — Mrs.  E.  D.  H.,  Grace,  Idaho. 

Substitute  for  sleeve  board :  Lay  a  maga- 
zine on  a  turkish  towel,  and  roll  with  towel 
on  outside.  Insert  the  end  of  this  roll  inside 
the  sleeve  and  iron  as  if  on  sleeve  board.  It 
works  beautifully  and  is  especially  helpful 
for  colored  garments  which  should  always 
be  ironed  single  thickness  to  minimize  streak- 
ing.— Q.  M„  Leavitt,  Alberta,  Canada. 

When  baking  potatoes  in  a  bonfire;  wash 
potatoes  well  and  wrap  each  in  a  piece  of 
brown  paper  sack  that  has  been  wrung  out 
in  cold  water.  When  done  you  can  remove 
the  paper  and  you  will  have  clean,  delicious 
baked  potatoes. — E.  P.,  Shelley,  Idaho. 

To   make   celery   curls   cut  small  stocks 

in  short  pieces  of  celery  lengthwise  into  thin 
shreds,  cutting  to  within  a  half-inch  of  the 
leaves  on  end  of  piece.    Place  in  ice  water 
-  to  curl.— E.  E.,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

Your  ice  trays  won't  stick  in  the  freezing 
compartment  of  your  refrigerator  if  you  slip 
a  piece  of  wax  paper  cut  to  size  under  each 
one.  The  trays  will  slide  out  at  your  touch. 
— E.  H.,  Hinckley,  Idaho. 

After  new  shelf  paper  has  been  put  in 
place,  cover  shelf  with  a  piece  of  wax  paper, 
extending  over  edge  of  shelf  only  far  enough 
that  thumb  tacks  may  keep  it  and  the  shelf 
paper  in  place.  When  waxed  paper  is  soiled, 
it  may  be  quickly  removed  without  disturb- 
ing the  paper  underneath. — /.  E.  A,  Para* 
dise,  California. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Cook's  Corner 

Josephine  B.  Nichols 

•"Pake  your  dinner  outdoors,  on  the  tcr- 
A    race,  in  the  back  yard  or  at  a  near- 
by park. 

Things  to  take.  Some  hot,  some  cold: 

Main  Dishes 
Casseroles,  meat  loaf,  meatburgers,  bar- 
becued meat,  and  kabobs. 

Scalloped  Chicken  in  Casserole 

5-oz.  package  potato  chips 

2  cups  cubed  cooked  chicken  or  tuna,  or 

tuna  and  chicken  may  be  used 
■4  hard  cooked  eggs,  chopped 
2  tablespoons  chopped  green  pepper  or 

parsley 
2  cups  thin  mushroom  sauce 

Combine  mushroom  sauce,  chicken,  eggs 
and  pepper;  season  with  salt  and  celery  salt. 
Put  a  layer  of  the  mixture  into  a  greased 
casserole:  next  a  layer  of  potato  chips,  then 
a  layer  of  mixture  topping  with  potato  chips. 
Bake  at  350°  F.  25  minutes. 

Kabobs 

Kabobs  are  made  by  alternating  bacon 
strips  with  meat  cut  in  1-inch  cubes  placed 
on  skewers.  Lamb,  beef,  veal,  liver  and  ham 
may  be  used.  In  addition  mushrooms,  onions, 
apples  or  tomato  wedges  in  any  combina- 
tion may  be  used.  Broil  to  a  turn,  over  a 
good  bed  of  live  coals,  or  in  the  oven. 

Bread 

Rolls,  buns,  and  a  variety  of  breads  may 
be  used. 

Prune  Bread 

1  cup  whole  wheat  flour 
\x/2  cups  white  flour 

1  cup  sugar 
3^  teaspoon  salt 
teaspoon  soda 
teaspoons  baking  powder 

1  cup  sour  milk 

2  tablespoons  fat 

1  cup  cooked  prunes 

1  cup  prune  juice 

1  egg 

1  cup  nuts 

Cream  fat  and  sugar.  Add  beaten  eggs 
and  prune  juice.  Mix  dry  ingredients  and 
add  alternately  with  the  milk  to  mixture. 
Add  prunes  and  nuts  cut  fine.  Pour  into 
loaf  pan  and  bake  at  375°  F.  for  35  minutes. 

Salads 
Garden  Tossup  with  French  Dressing 
Use  fresh,  crisp,  vegetables.  Lettuce, 
radishes,  spinach,  celery,  cucumbers,  green 
peppers,  endive,  water  cress,  onions,  cab- 
bage, carrots,  cauliflower,  and  tomatoes. 
There  is  no  limit  to  the  combinations  that 
are  possible  in  tossed  salad.  Add  the  dress- 
ing and  toss  before  serving. 

Gelatin  salads  may  be  made  and  stored 
in  the  refrigerator  until  ready  to  serve. 

Cucumber  Salad 

2  cups  grapefruit  juice 
1  package  lime  gelatin 
1  teaspoon  onion  juice 

1  cup  chopped  cucumber 

Dissolve  gelatin  in  hot  grapefruit  juice. 
Add  onion  juice.  Chill  until  syrupy.  Add 
chopped  cucumber.  Pour  into  mold  and  chill. 

Desserts 

Cake,  cookies,  frozen  desserts,  and  fresh 
fruits. 

(Concluded  on  page  452) 

JULY,  1944 


2 


ra&gce  sju/z. 


Durkee's  Margarine  is  made  by 
an  improved  process  which 
churns  the  pure  vegetable  oils 
right  in  with  the  fresh  pasteur- 
ized skim  milk.  IN  foods  and 
ON  them,  you'll  love  the  flavor 
of  Durkee's  Troco  Margarine! 

SPREAD  . .  COOK . .  BAKE . .  FRY 


One  of  the  Basic  7 
Foods  recommend- 
ed in  the  U.  S.  Nu- 
trition Food  Rules. 


M.%. 


stAi*T>-m  mtwwc« 


mo€0\ 

OLEOMARGARINE 


SO  Mll-P 


so 


;t^£l 


so 


nQUNTRY-FRes, 


^m^im 


tNFLAUi 


M 


Cook  eight-ounce  package  of  FRIL-LETS  6%  min- 
utes. Drain  and  chill.  Make  cream  sauce  with  flour, 
butter  and  milk,  cooked  thoroughly.  Mix  in  tuna  fish 
or  salmon,  fine  cut  pimiento,  salt,  then  chill  again. 
Shape  into  croquettes,  roll  in  egg  beaten  with  two 
tablespoons  of  milk.  Dip  in  bread  crumbs,  fry  in  deep  fat.  Watch  them  "come 
again"  for  this  treat!  Several  packages  of  FRIL-LETS  on  hand  for  quick, 
tasty  dishes  will  provide  so  many  easy-to-prepare  meals  that  are  wholesome 
and  cost  you  less  money. 


Order  a  supply 
GOLDEN 

EGG-NOODLE 

FRIL-LETS 

today 


SEND  THE  "ERA" 

Your  loved  ones  away  from  home 
need  its  inspiration. 


12  issues 


$2.00 


IIVUSEForOVERFlFFYYEARS 

Aids  in  treatment  of  Canker,  simple 
sore  throat,  and  other  minor  mouth 
and  throat  irritations. 

Hall's  Canker  Remedy 

536   East    2nd    So.    —   at    Salt   Lake   City,    Utah 

451 


GOOD  IDEAS 

ggjIIB        AT  -- 

AND  DEALERS 


■II"1'1'       'ill  a*?^*** 


■        PAPERING?  TRY  THIS... 


Have  3  walls  patterned,  the 
other  plain.  Among  Fuller 
Vogue  Wallpapers  you'll  find 
special  "ensemble  papers" 
made  to  go  together! 


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Stop  LOSS- 

Everybody  Can 
Avoid  It  Through 
FIRE  INSURANCE 


When  you  come 
here  for  insurance 
you  get  it,  coupled 
with  attentive,  ex- 
perienced service. 
This  is  an  agency  of 
the  Utah  Home  Fire 
Insurance  Co. 

UTAH  HOME  FIRE 

INSURANCE  CO. 

Heber  J.  Grant  &  Co. 

General  Agents 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


( Concluded  from  page  45 1  j 

Brownies 

Yi  cup  fat 

2  ounces  chocolate 
%  cup  cake  flour 
Y2  teaspoon  baking  powder 
Y2  teaspoon  salt 

2  eggs 

1  cup  sugar 

1   teaspoon  vanilla 

1   cup  nuts,  chopped 

Melt  fat  and  chocolate  over  hot  water. 
Cool.  Sift  flour  with  baking  powder  and 
salt.  Beat  eggs  until  light,  add  sugar,  then 
chocolate  mixture,  and  blend.  Add  flour, 
vanilla  and  nuts,  and  mix  well.  Pour  batter 
into  greased  8x8  inch  pan.  Bake  at  350°  F. 
for  35  minutes.   Cut  into  squares. 


Summer  Coolers 

3  cups  apple  juice  or  cider 

3  cups  orange  juice 

1   quart  carbonated  water  or  fruit  mixer 

Combine,  pour  over  decorated  ice  cubes. 


1M 

1 


Iceberg  Cooler 


cups  sugar 
cups  water 

package  lemon  or  lime  flavored  summer 
drink  powder 
lemons 
oranges 

grated  peel  of  1  orange 
cup  mint  leaves 
4-5  cups  water 

Boil  sugar  and  water  5  minutes.  Add 
drink  powder.  Cool.  Add  fruit  juices,  peel. 
Pour  over  mint  leaves;  let  stand  one  hour. 
Add  water  and  ice.    Makes  2Yi  quarts. 


3 
2 


OUT  OF  THE  JUNK  HEAP 

By  Peter  Hunt 


"\17'hat  can  be  done  with  a  discarded 
^*     radio    cabinet?     Lots    of   things. 
Here's  an  example. 
The  radio  set  was  removed  and  sent  to 


was  painted  on  each  side  as  well.  A 
feather  edge,  also  red,  was  brushed  on 
the  inside  of  the  top,  and  another  heart 
put  in  the  center. 


the  salvage  heap  and  a  backing  of  ply- 
wood put  on.  The  legs  were  sawed  off 
leaving  the  top  knobs.  The  top  was 
hinged.  New  wooden  knobs  were  put 
on  the  doors.  Then  I  painted  it  all  over 
with  white.  Chinese  red  was  used  to 
paint  around  the  penciled  outline  of  a 
heart  in  each  door  panel,  and  a  red  heart 


Bermuda  blue  was  used  for  the  corner 
posts,  for  the  mottos,  for  lace-edging  the 
hearts,  and  for  the  tear-drop  scrolls 
which  use  the  veneer  applique  as  a  be- 
ginning, repeating  only  the  graceful  ele- 
ments of  it.  Mary  Rose  keeps  her  dolls 
in  the  bottom,  Mother  stores  blankets 
in  the  top. 


THE  CHURCH  MOVES  ON 


(Concluded  from  page  447) 

Franklin  Willard  Turpin,  Murray,  Utah;  James  Ed- 
ward Lindsay,  Jr.,  Ogden,  Utah;  Afton  Ballard,  Rock- 
ville,  Utah;  Glen  Call  Bleazard,  Ogden,  Utah;  Joseph 
Leonard  Henriod,  Salt  Lake  City;  Allen  Roy  Lindsay, 
Heber  City,  Utah;  Vance  Wendell  Andersen,  Mendon, 
Utah;  Angus  Gilbert  Green,  Sandy,  Utah;  Robert 
Charles  Hopkin,  Lovell,  Wyoming;  Glen  Calvin 
Palmer,   Grantsville,   Utah. 

Western  States:  Ray  Orvin  Taylor,  Mendon,  Utah; 
John  Charles  Duncan,  Salt  Lake  City;  James  Edward 
Hunter,  Holden,  Utah;  Royal  Dow  Murphy,  McGill, 
Nevada;  Clarence  Gordon  Tregeagle,  Salt  Lake  City; 
Verle  Thomas  Waldron,  Tremonton,  Utah;  Lorin 
Fisher  Widdison,  Rexburg,  Idaho;  DeLeon  Clayton, 
San  Diego,  California;  Anton  Joseph  Wozab,  Salt 
Lake  City;  Jay  H.  Buell,  Heber  City,  Utah;  Dean 
Wintsch  Bartholomew,  Fayette,  Utah;  Wallace  Troy 
Butler,  Tetonia,  Idaho;  Alma  Howard  Cooper,  Salt 
Lake  City;  Max  B.  Crandall,  Salt  Lake  City;  Dean 
William   Criddle.    Clearfield,    Utah;    LaMont   Heaton, 


452 


Moccasin,  Arizona;  LeRoy  Junior  Longenbohn,  Grace, 
Idaho;  Victor  Eugene  Steimle,  West  Los  Angeles. 
California;  Elmer  LaVar  Sagers,  St.  John,  Utah;  Mark 
Lynn  Judy,  Pocatello,   Idaho. 

Western  Canadian:  Philip  Tadje  Sonntag,  Salt 
Lake  City;  Robert  Donald  Klein,  Los  Angeles,  Califor- 
nia; Mills  McClellan  Johnson,  Barnwell,  Alta.,  Can- 
ada; Garth  Edward  Pehrson,  Provo,  Utah;  Dale 
Richard  Stephens,  Lynwood,  California;  Kenneth  Ros» 
Tucker,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

New  Zealand  War  Chest 

"M"ew  Zealand  Saints  raised  $110,000 
*  ^  for  their  nation's  war  fund  at  their 
four-day  annual  hui  tan  (conference) 
held  at  Hastings,  New  Zealand,  last 
Easter.  Two  thousand  Maoris  from  all 
parts  of  New  Zealand  attended. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


News  From  The  Camps 


<  «««««<«-c<«<<~e*««««««<-4«««*««  <««  «««« •*«  <«<«*■«* 


Somewhere  in  Italy 

As  I  arose  at  five-thirty  and  com- 
•*"*■  menced  preparations  for  the  Easter 
Sunrise  Service,  it  seemed  just  like  an- 
other day  in  the  army.  But  in  a  few 
minutes  the  camp  commenced  taking  on 
a  little  life.  Over  the  loud  speaking  sys- 
tem came  a  conglomeration  of  phrases, 
"Time  to  get  up — French  toast  for 
breakfast — Get  out  of  those  'sacs' — 
Come  on  let's  go."  The  wheels  of  the 
heavy  trucks  could  be  heard  bumping 
along  the  dirt  road  as  they  sped  the 
mechanics  down  to  the  line.  Soon  I 
could  hear  the  roar  of  the  airplane  en- 
gines as  they  resounded  throughout  the 
early  morning  air,  and  I  could  almost 
feel  the  vibration  which  was  caused  by 
such  a  tremendous  concentration  of 
horsepower.  Except  for  the  lighted  mess 
halls,  most  of  the  tents  remained  en- 
veloped in  darkness  as  the  occupants 
clung  covetously  to  those  precious  last 
winks  of  sleep. 

As  I  carried  the  songbooks  to  the  se- 
lected meeting  spot,  and  the  organ  and 
pulpit  were  arranged  in  their  proper 
places  I  was  conscious  more  than  ever 
of  this  terrible  conflict  in  which  we  were 
engaged  and  aware  of  the  hate  and 
greed  it  expressed  and  the  suffering  and 
death  which  it  brought. 

The  meeting  was  being  held  in  a  field 
directly  in  front  of  the  officer's  mess, 
fresh  spring  grass  being  our  carpet  and 
the  clouded  sky  our  roof.  The  fellows 
drifted  towards  the  appointed  spot,  and 
at  three  minutes  to  seven  I  commenced 
the  prelude  and  the  chaplain  and  the 
"eight-voiced  choir"  took  their  places. 
The  sincere  prayer  and  inspired  singing 
seemed  to  build  towards  that  sublime 
moment  when  from  the  scriptures  was 
read,  "He  is  not  here:  for  he  is  risen." 
The  service  was  short,  but  the  spirit 
which  ensued  from  those  few  minutes 


spent  in  worship  was  to  have  a  lasting 
effect,  not  only  upon  me,  but  upon  all 
of  those  in  attendance. 

The  dull  gray  clouds  were  still  above 
us:  the  roar  of  the  airplane  engines  still 
audible:  our  daily  routine  still  ahead 
of  us:  a  job  still  to  be  done.  However, 
our  perspective  had  changed,  our  vision 
been  enlarged.  I  was  able  to  see  beyond 
my  thoughts  of  a  few  minutes  ago  and 
realize  that  death  was  not  final.  All 
around  us  in  nature  could  be  seen  evi- 
dences of  hope,  faith,  and  a  new  life — 
the  green  grass,  the  budding  trees,  the 
young  colts  grazing  in  a  nearby  field. 

Thus  thousands  of  miles  from  our 
loved  ones,  without  the  grandeur  and 
splendor  of  our  gothic  temples,  an  Eas- 
ter service  in  far  away  Italy  had  en- 
tered into  our  thoughts  and  touched  our 
lives  as  never  before,  for  we  felt  the 
real  significance  of  what  had  occurred 
when  the  angel  said  unto  them,  "He  is 
risen." 

Sgt.  George  I.  Cannon 


'"Phis  was  written  one  night  while 
A  Keith  was  on  guard  duty  in  the 
mountains  of  Washington.  He  is  an 
M  Man  of  Compton  Center  Ward, 
Long  Beach  Stake. 

A  SILHOUETTE  AT  NIGHT 

By  Keith  Wardell 

A  silhouette  at  night,  when 
All  the  stars  are  twinkling  bright. 
I  see  the  mountains  towering  high 
Like  rugged  sentinels  against  the  sky. 
They  seem  a  constant  vigil  to  keep, 
While  all  the  world  is  deep  in  sleep. 
I  see  the  towering  peaks  above 
Like  symbols  of  untarnished  love. 
So  looking  forth  on  every  hand 
I  gaze  upon  this  wonder  land: 
And  wonder  how,  or  when,  or  where 
"God  found  time  to  put  them  there." 


THE  "EIGHT  VOICED  CHOIR"  SINGING  GATES'  "THE  LORD'S  PRAYER"  AT  THE  SUNRISE  EASTER 
SERVICE,  APRIL  9,  1944,  SOMEWHERE  IN  ITALY 

Reading  from  left  to  right:  Chaplain  Frank  Robinson,  Jr.,  St.  Petersburg,  Fla.;  Sgt.  George  I.  Cannon, 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  (organist);  Pvt.  Wayne  C.  Christensen,  Rapid  City,  So.  Dak.;  S/Sgt.  Wm.  H.  Greer, 
Muskogee,  Oklahoma;  S/Sgt.  Richard  L.  Hunter,  Farmersburg,  Ind.;  Capt.  John  D.  Sandifer,  Sequin,  Texas; 
Sgt.  Gerald  R.  Hunter,  Farmersburg,  Ind.;  S/Sgt.  Verner  L.  Hunter,  Farmersburg,  Ind.;  Corp.  Stuart  E. 
Ballard,  Detroit,  Michigan. 

JULY,  1944 


MOST  important  thing 
about  Rancho  Soup  is 

"taste 

.the  LEAST  important  thing 
about  Rancho  Soup  is 


price 


mm 


It  costs  you  less  because 
it  costs  us  less  to  get 
RANCHO  SOUP  to  your 
grocer  from  our  farm- 
kitchens  here  in  the  West! 

5    VARIETIES* 

TOMATO  •  VEGETABLE  .  PEA 
At  your  Grocer's    CHICKEN-NOODLE  •  ASPARAGUS 

always . . . 

REACH  FOR 

RANCHO 


A  Mew 
Discovery! 


ANEW  discovery  in  hotel 
comfort    can    be    found 
at    Salt    Lake's    newest 
hotel — the    Temple    Square! 


H 


All  west  rooms  are  air-con- 
ditioned, as  are  the  lobies 
and  our  popular  §50,000  Cof- 
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of  200  rooms  with  bath  and 
radio.  You'll  enjoy  the  hos- 
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Salt  Lake  City 


CLARENCE  L  WEST, 
Manager 


!'■',. 


3-i 


453 


0 


1IS1C 


^.B^.a^.T8a,  ls.V^wTl».1»i.  TK.  Ifc-^  Tin,  'it,  3fcJhi3fc  "S&-'SL-'8^'<a,  ■&,  ^  i»./38k  Tfe.  T8H,.  T»i "8&  T&,  ^  Hi.  'Bk  1&  ';&.  1&.  =»,  B, 


rtrww  ». 


Worship  in  Song 

By  A/ejcander  Schteinev 

Tabernacle  Organist,  and  Member, 

Church  Music  Committee 

{"Congregational  singing  is  a  mode  of 
^  worship.  The  importance  of  this 
mode  of  worship  looms  very  large  to 
the  ordinary  member  of  the  congrega- 
tion. To  strangers  and  visitors  the  act 
of  singing  together  with  the  faithful  may 
easily  be  the  most  effective  part  of  the 
service.  The  emotions  are  aroused, 
hearts  are  touched,  and  courage  re- 
newed by  the  singing  of  Church  hymns. 

Singing  with  the  congregation  is  an 
important  way  of  worshiping.  It  is  the 
only  opportunity  allowed  the  congrega- 
tion of  actively  participating  in  the 
worshiping  service.  Therefore  we  mu- 
sicians must  do  all  we  can  to  make  con- 
gregational singing  an  inspiring,  devo- 
tional, and  enjoyable  part  of  the  serv- 
ice. How  can  this  be  done?  Let  us 
consider  only  three  items.  The  reader 
may  be  able  to  add  others. 

First,  let  us  differentiate  clearly  be- 
tween a  recreational  type  of  song  lead- 
ing, and  the  devotional  way  of  song 
leading.  The  former  is  suitable  when  a 
group  sings  for  amusement.  Here  the 
eyes  of  the  director  will  sparkle,  he  will 
exercise  his  personality,  and  attract  the 
utmost  attention  of  the  singers  to  him- 
self. The  director  will  do  some  con- 
siderable talking  to  cajole  and  entertain 
his  singers.  But  all  of  this  technique  is 
out  of  place  when  a  group  of  people 
have  met  to  worship  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing or  Sunday  evening.  Here  the  people 
have  met  to  worship  and  pay  their  de- 
votions to  the  Most  High.  The  best  di- 
rectors will  say  little  or  nothing.  They 
will  not  ask  for  the  attention  of  the  sing- 
ers, because  these  singers  will  give  their 
hearts  and  attention  to  the  sense  of  the 
hymn  through  which  they  are  worship- 
ing. When  the  congregation  addresses 
itself  to  Deity  by  singing  "O  My  Fa- 
ther, Thou  that  Dwellest,"  or  "Redeem- 
er of   Israel,   Our  Only  Delight,"   or 


"Great  God,  Attend  While  Zion  Sings," 
or  "Sweet  is  the  Work,  My  God,  My 
King,"  then  the  director  will  do  well  to 
conduct  modestly,  so  that  his  actions 
will  not  interrupt  the  prayerful  devo- 
tions of  the  worshiping  singers.  The 
best  of  congregational  singing  by  the 
righteous  is  a  prayer  unto  the  Lord.  It 
seems  clear  that  recreational  directing 
is  suitable  only  in  recreational  gather- 
ings, and  that  in  a  worshiping  assembly 
we  must  allow  our  singers  to  worship. 

Let  us  consider  a  second  thought. 
Americans  do  not  like  dictators,  either 
political  or  musical.  A  good  chorister 
will  lead  gently,  like  a  shepherd.  He 
will  never  use  any  kind  of  compulsion 
or  force,  and  he  will  never  ask  that  the 
congregation  sing  faster.  This  simply  is 
not  done  by  the  best  directors.  He  will 
merely  need  to  keep  his  beat  just  a  little, 
a  very  little,  ahead  of  the  singers,  lest 
the  hymn  slow  down  too  much. 

Dr.  Hamilton  C.  Macdougall  of 
Wellesley  College,  a  national  authori- 
ty, writes: 

It  is  not  uncommon  for  an  organist  (or 
chorister)  to  nag  and  drive  the  congrega- 
tion. Is  not  that  a  most  mischievous  notion, 
destructive  of  good  hymn  singing?  For  this 
reason  I  find  myself  often  unable  to  sing  the 
hymn-tunes  in  church.  When  I  was  young, 
I  had  the  idea  that  singing  the  hymns  was  a 
musical  performance.  But  now  when  I  be- 
lieve I  have  more  sense,  I  am  strongly  of 
the  opinion  that  hymn  singing  is  primarily 
a  mode  and  part  of  worship. 

Our  best  professional  directors,  when 
they  lead  a  congregation  in  hymns, 
merely  lead  gently  along,  according  to 
the  teachings  of  the  Good  Shepherd, 
whose  example  we  are  all  trying  to  fol- 
low. 

Third,  we  still  need  to  give  some  care 
to  the  selection  of  songs.  Our  Deseret 
Sunday  School  Songs  contain  many 
songs  intended  primarily  for  children. 
Such  songs  are  less  useful  in  adult  Sun- 
day Schools  and  services.  "When  I  was 
a  child,  I  spake  as  a  child,  I  understood 
as  a  child,  I  thought  as  a  child:  but 
when  I  became  a  man,  I  put  away 
childish  things."  (I  Cor.  13:11.) 


As  an  example,  it  would  seem  clear 
that  adults  will  draw  more  spiritual 
strength  from  "O  Thou  Kind  and  Gra- 
cious Father,"  than  from  the  children's 
song,  "The  Opening  Buds  of  Spring- 
time." 

Sometimes  leaders  choose  songs  for 
a  rousing  response,  avoiding  those  of 
spiritual  power.  There  are  many  peo- 
ple who  will  agree  that  that  which 
(Concluded  on  page  457) 


Tropic  Ward  Choir 

"Dishop  J.  Orval  Christensen  of  the 
Tropic  Ward,  sends  us  the  follow- 
ing information  concerning  his  ward's 
progressive  choir: 

After  hearing  Bishop  LeGrand  Richards 
say  in  the  semi-annual  conference  in  Oc- 
tober that  he  desired  every  ward  to  have 
25%  or  more  of  their  ward  out  to  sacra- 
ment meeting,  our  bishopric  decided  that  a 
well-organized  choir  with  much  to  do  would 
be  one  of  several  ways  we  might  adopt  to 
reach  this  goal.  Thus,  thirty  ward  mem- 
bers were  called  by  the  bishop,  as  a  mission- 
ary would  be  called,  for  a  period  of  one 
year.  Twenty-five  of  this  number,  over 
75%,  have  been  in  attendance  at  choir  prac- 
tices, sacrament  meetings,  and  other  planned 
programs  which  we  set  as  the  minimum  re- 
quirements to  obtain  the  Choir  Service 
Award  for  1943. 

The  choir  sang  for  all  sacrament  meetings, 
with  over  85%  average  attendance.  They 
sang  for  all  funerals,  for  all  missionary  fare- 
wells and  parties,  and  also  took  three  com- 
plete programs  to  neighboring  wards.  Four 
complete  sacrament  meetings  in  this  ward 
were  under  their  direction:  one  being  the 
life  of  Joseph  Smith  in  song  and  music;  one, 
the  life  of  Christ  in  song  and  music;  one, 
the  early  history  of  the  Church  and  the  west- 
ern journey  into  Utah;  and  one,  the  music 
of  our  early  Church  writers.  At  Christmas 
time  they  presented  a  Christmas  pageant. 
They  also  furnished  all  the  music  for  one 
stake  quarterly  conference. 

Officers  of  the  choir  are:  Leslie  Le- 
Fevre,  manager;  Malen  Mecham,  assist- 
ant; Mary  Hall,  secretary  and  treasurer; 
Annie  Colvin  and  Virginia  Ott,  co-di- 
rectors; Flora  LeFevre,  organist;  Lu- 
Zene  McAllister,  pianist. 


ags 


TROPIC 
WARD 
CHOIR 


454 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Genealogy 


,  jryyrsrW^WVr  *  r  V  TV  W  W  W  W  T  JT  *  *  J*  ** 

•  "^fc- »-"^  "frh ~Tfh  "Tun  ^gfrni  'i(failhi'*llhi*lffiiifc"Tth"',B>fr.*lfiti^lK  3fc  j  ^^  "sik  ]fc  Jh  Tfo  Ifc.  whiMfcTfliii  Th  "TBUi  IBh  ■>  "fci  3fc3fc  Tfr  TT  "**!  m  f>ii  "iftr  Tr*-  "^ 


<«<««  <«<*«««-€  <A  «  <««« 


Eight  Ways  to  Avoid 
Duplications 

By  Archibald  F.  Bennett 


June  8,  1944 
Dear  Stake  Chairman: 

Touring  the  year  1943  we 
r-f  checked  at  the  Temple  Index 
Bureau  781,496  names.  Of  this 
number  320,075  names  failed  to 
receive  approval  for  temple  work 
because  they  had  been  previously 
endowed.  In  one  month  alone 
(March  1944)  out  of  57,102 
names  checked,  22,354  were  elimi- 
nated as  duplications  of  work  al- 
ready done. 

Had  these  attempted  duplica- 
tions not  been  prevented  there 
would  have  been  a  waste  of  ap- 
proximately more  than  1,200,000 
hours  in  the  performance  of  un- 
necessary ordinances  for  the  dead. 
Even  though  the  duplications 
were  forestalled  there  had  already 
occurred  a  tremendous  expendi- 
ture of  time  in  searching  out  these 
names  and  preparing  the  family 
records  which  were  sent  to  the 
index  bureau — all  to  no  useful 
purpose. 

We  call  upon  all  genealogical 
committees  to  exert  every  effort 
to  avoid  the  sending  in  of  such 
quantities  of  names  already  en- 
dowed. Please  instruct  the  people 
under  your  jurisdiction  how  this 
may  be  done.  Read  the  following 
article  containing  useful  sugges- 
tions. . .  . 

Sincerely  your  brethren, 

Genealogical  Society  of 

Utah, 
Joseph  Fielding  Smith, 

President 
Archibald  F.  Bennett, 

Secretary 


Pouring  the  month  of  August  1942, 
*-*  we  closed  the  genealogical  library 
to  the  public  and  concentrated  the  ef- 
forts of  all  our  available  force  on  the 
checking  of  family  group  records  sub- 
mitted for  temple  work.  Additional 
workers  joined  us  from  the  St.  George, 
Manti,  Logan,  and  Arizona  temples.  As 
a  result  of  this  united  effort  14,260  fami- 
ly group  sheets  were  checked  through 
the  index  bureau,  containing  a  total  of 
62,397  names.  Out  of  this  number 
21,846  were  proved  to  have  been  al- 
ready endowed.  Others  of  necessity 
would  be  the  names  of  children  in- 
eligible   for    that    ordinance.     Hence, 

JULY,  1944 


roughly,  out  of  every  three  names 
checked  one  had  been  previously  of- 
ficiated for.  Out  of  over  60,000  names, 
scarcely  40,000  would  actually  reach 
the  temples. 

This  ratio  of  duplications  was  fairly 
constant  throughout  the  year.  A  total 
of  310,436  names  were  checked  at  the 
temple  index  bureau;  104,176  duplica- 
tions were  prevented  by  this  checking. 
Had  all  names  submitted  been  new 
names  never  before  sent  to  a  temple, 
there  would  have  been  104,176  more 
names  on  hand  at  the  temples  during  the 
year;  and  the  temples  could  have  used 
these  additional  names  to  very  good 
advantage.  On  February  2,  1943,  we 
checked  2830  names  and  found  1210 
duplications. 

In  reality  there  is  very  little  work  at- 
tached to  checking  names  of  persons  not 
previously  endowed.  They  are  cleared 
at  the  index  bureau  and  can  go  im- 
mediately to  the  typists  and  will  soon  be 
on  their  way  to  a  temple.  There  is  much 
work  of  correcting  and  adjusting  in  con- 
nection with  names  of  those  whose  work 
is  already  done,  to  say  the  least;  from 
two  to  three  times  as  long  is  required  to 
handle  them  as  compared  with  an  equal 
number  of  those  whose  work  is  not 
done.  Thus  in  August,  had  it  all  been 
new  work,  we  could  easily  have  sent 
80,000  names  to  the  temples  instead  of 
40,000. 

For  years  under  the  old  plan  of  pre- 
senting names  for  temple  work  upon 
temple  sheets  the  ratio  of  duplications 
prevented  was  about  one  in  ten<  now, 
as  indicated  above,  it  is  one  in  three. 
What  has  caused  this  tremendous  in- 
crease? Simply  that  the  great  majority 
of  those  handing  in  names  are  doing  so 
without  earnestly  trying  to  present  only 
names  of  those  who  are  eligible. 

We  watched  carefully  during  the 
year  to  detect  the  types  of  duplications 
in  research  that  had  already  taken  place 
and  the  types  of  duplications  in  temple 
work  we  were  preventing.  As  a  result 
of  that  study  the  following  suggestions 
are  offered  patrons  to  enable  them  to 
avoid  such  a  waste  of  time  and  effort, 
expensive  alike  to  them  and  to  the 
Church. 

I.  Avoid  submitting  the  names  of  all  mem' 
bers  of  royal  families,  and  of  those  nearly 
allied  to  them. 

Under  a  recent  ruling  no  more  of  such 
names  can  be  received  for  checking,  for  the 
reason  that  work  of  practically  every  mem- 
ber of  royal  families  has  already  been  done, 
possibly  several  times.  Better  spend  your 
time  where  it  will  do  most  good.  More- 
over, there  are  so  many  different  ways  in 
which  a  ruler  or  prince  may  be  described 
such  as  "William,  Duke  of  Normandy," 
"William  I  of  England,"  or  "William  the 
Conqueror,"  etc.,  that  it  is  comparatively 
easy  to  get  the  name  through  even  once 
again,  unless  the  greatest  vigilance  is  ex- 
ercised by  every  person  having  to  do  with 
the  record  and  the  checking. 


II.  Avoid  lines  of  the  higher  nobility, 
such  as  families  of  dukes,  earls,  lords,  counts, 
marquises,  etc. 

Almost  any  family  which  can  get  a  good 
start  in  tracing  back  its  pedigree  will  con- 
nect with  one  of  these  families.  When  a 
single  connection  is  made  with  a  titled  fami- 
ly numerous  connections  can  usually  be 
made  with  other  families  of  the  nobility. 
The  further  back  in  point  of  time  the  greater 
the  number  of  us  who  establish  lineal  rela- 
tionship with  the  same  prominent  ancestors. 
Thus  over  and  over  again  during  the  year 
different  patrons  presented  the  selfsame 
noble  families  to  the  index  office.  Could 
they  see  as  we  see  this  constant  effort  at  re- 
petition our  patrons,  I  am  sure,  would  not 
need  to  be  urged  to  devote  their  time  to  less 
popular  lines. 

Few  who  "dabble"  with  such  lines  are 
qualified  to  provide  proper  identification  for 
them;  and  all  too  frequently  they  use  the 
poorest  of  all  the  many  sources  available, 
when  excellent  records  could  have  been 
used  giving  all  the  facts  known. 

III.  Be  aware  of  the  fact  that  names  from 
most  easily  accessible  printed  records  have 
already  been  taken. 

You  may  reason  this  out  for  yourself. 
Thousands  upon  thousands  of  Church  mem- 
bers trace  to  New  England  ancestors  in 
the  states  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut, 
Rhode  Island,  New  Hampshire,  and  Ver- 
mont. There  are  published  many  family 
genealogies  from  this  section;  and  printed 
vital  records  of  various  towns  are  quite 
plentiful.  These  will  probably  be  found  in 
every  genealogical  library  in  the  land  of 
any  importance.  A  searcher  in  New  York, 
another  in  Los  Angeles,  another  in  Denver 
or  Chicago,  or  Washington,  D.C.,  may  each 
extract  data  from  the  same  vital  records  or 
family  history,  and  send  in  the  selfsame 
record.  Only  one  can  be  accepted.  The  time 
spent  on  the  others  is  useless  duplication  in 
research,  as  far  as  temple  work  is  con- 
cerned. In  all  probability,  however,  the 
work  for  the  family  in  question  was  done 
back  in,  say,  1905,  when  the  volume  was 
first  printed,  by  an  older  Utah  relative  of 
these  other  searchers. 

IV.  Use  caution  against  repeating  ordi- 
nances for  the  first  converts  of  your  family 
to  join  the  Church,  and  for  their  immediate 
ancestors. 

It  may  surprise  you  to  learn  that  a  large 
number  of  present  Church  members  have 
lost  all  knowledge  of  their  forefathers  who 
first  brought  the  family  into  the  Church.  Al- 
most every  day  at  the  library  or  archives 
we  assist  one  or  more  persons  to  find  records 
of  great-grandfathers  or  second  great-grand- 
fathers who  sacrificed  everything  for  the 
gospel,  but  whose  names  they  have  never 
heard.  Perhaps  these  early  members  were 
at  Nauvoo;  received  their  own  endowments 
and  patriarchal  blessing;  and  then  died  on 
the  weary  way  to  Utah.  Years  ago  I  dupli- 
cated the  work  for  my  great-grandmother. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Mary  Bell.  I  could 
find  no  mention  in  my  grandfather's  temple 
record  that  she  had  ever  been  endowed.  No 
one  seemed  to  know  anything  about  her. 
Finally  I  secured  her  full  identification  and 
had  her  baptized  for  and  endowed.  Later  I 
learned  that  she  was  the  one  who,  as  a 
widow,  brought  her  family  into  the  Church. 

(Concluded  on  page  456) 

455 


Genealogy 


(Concluded  from  page  455) 

She  was  endowed  in  the  Nauvoo  Temple 
under  the  name  of  Mary  Bennett,  with  only 
her  date  of  birth  being  given.  When  nearly 
sixty  she  crossed  the  plains  to  Utah,  burying 
two  daughters  and  some  grandchildren  in 
Winter  Quarters  and  Council  Bluffs.  I  can- 
not feel  that  it  was  any  great  compliment 
to  her  devotion  and  memory  to  have  repeated 
ordinances  she  had  attended  to  herself  dur- 
ing Me.  If  only  someone  had  suggested  to 
me  then  that  at  Nauvoo  women  were  en- 
dowed under  their  married  name,  but  sealed 
to  husbands  under  their  maiden  name,  I 
could  have  avoided  that  duplication. 

We  suggest,  therefore,  that  you  use  cau- 
tion in  attempting  work  for  these  early  mem- 
bers. Your  description  of  them  may  be  ac- 
curate and  complete;  the  identification  re- 
quired at  that  day  of  living  persons  was  not. 
Again,  many  of  these  early  members  were 
baptized  in  Nauvoo  for  those  of  their  near 
relatives  who  were  dead;  if  they  arrived  in 
Utah  they  were  frequently  baptized  for  the 
dead,  and  had  sealings  performed  for  de- 
ceased couples.  Endowments  for  the  dead 
could  not  be  done  until  the  dedication  of  a 
temple  in  Utah,  ie„  before  1877. 

V.  Check  over  carefully  old  family  or 
temple  records  and  ascertain  what  has  been 
done  already  by  earlier  members  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  consult  with  older  living  relatives. 

Even  when  no  ordinance  dates  are  re- 
corded in  these  records,  the  work  may  have 
been  done  and  the  recording  neglected. 
Through  a  similar  neglect  to  record  ordi- 
nances today,  we  detect  some  patrons  sub- 
mitting the  same  group  several  times  in  one 
year. 

VI.  Examine  Records  on  pie  in  the  Church 
Record  Archives. 

There  you  may  find  a  relative  has  already 
placed  a  complete  record  giving  all  dates  of 
ordinances  on  each  family  of  his  ancestory. 
This  will  save  your  time  in  research  and 
render  unnecessary  the  submitting  of  your 
records  for  checking  in  order  to  get  these 
desired  dates.  If  you  are  unable  to  make  this 
personal  examination,  invite  a  relative  who 
has  access  to  the  archives  to  do  so  for  you. 

VII.  In  undertaking  research  on  a  new 
line  of  ancestry,  send  in  a  few  test  sheets 
for  checking,  before  transcribing  the  entire 
line  upon  group  sheets. 

Let  us  suppose  you  have  the  good  fortune 
to  establish  connection  with  a  genealogy 
printed  in  1935.  You  will,  of  course,  copy 
names  of  the  new  ancestors  upon  your  pedi- 
gree chart.  Since  all  in  the  record  are  de- 
scendants of  an  ancestor  of  yours,  you  are 
entitled  to  do  temple  work  for  those  who  are 
dead,  if  their  work  has  not  already  been 
done  by  other  relatives.  To  ascertain  this, 
select,  perhaps,  the  family  of  the  first  an- 
cestor; then  a  family  of  about  a  century 
later;  then  another  where  the  deaths  of 
members  have  only  recently  occurred.  Send 
these  for  checking  to  the  index  office,  tf  this 
reveals  that  work  for  all  three  groups  has 
been  previously  administered,  you  may  be 
reasonably  sure  that  someone  has  already 
cared  for  this  family  line.  If  work  is  done 
for  the  earliest  group  only,  then  you  may 
send  in  groups  from  the  later  period. 

VIII.  Finally  (and  probably  best  of  all), 
strive  to  do  original  research,  discovering 
new  ancestral  connections  not  made  by  any 
researcher  before. 

This  will  often  bring  to  light  records  not 
included  in  any  printed  volume,  and  will 
most  certainly  enable  you  to  strike  an  an- 
cestral vein  not  worked  out.  This  may  re- 
sult from  haying  unpublished  parish  regis- 

456 


ters  searched  in  a  European  country.  The 
average  cost  per  name  may  be  higher;  but 
so  will  the  yield  for  temple  work.  Or  you 
may  find  connections  in  old  deeds,  wills, 
court  records  and  the  like,  and  sense  all  the 
joy  of  being  the  original  discoverer. 

Names  are  urgently  needed  at  all  the 
temples.  You  can  do  your  share  to 
make  more  available  by  using  wisdom 
and  good  judgment  in  the  names  you 
copy  and  submit  to  the  index  office. 
Place  a  high  value  on  your  time  and 
ours. 


\Jur   ^jrta 


9 


Book: 


(Concluded  from  page  422) 
Mr.  Babson  emphasizes  the  value  of  sitting 
"by  one's  self  in  quiet  prayer  and  medita- 
tion in  a  church  edifice,"  before  making  de- 
cisions of  any  nature.  In  developing  the 
theme  of  becoming  acquainted  with  one's 
self  in  our  hurried  age,  numerous  wise  sug- 
gestions are  made  for  application  in  every 
man's  daily  life. — J.  A.  W. 

LETTER  FROM  NEW  GUINEA 
(Vern  Haugland.    Farrar  and  Rinehart, 
New  York.    1943.   148  pages.  $1.50.) 

"pOR  genuine  adventure,  with  a  spiritual 
*■  significance,  this  book  will  rank  high 
among  the  stories  of  this  war.  Young  and 
old  will  enjoy  reading  it,  finding  in  it  a 
genuineness  that  will  convince  them  of  the 
author's  abiding  faith  in  a  Supreme  Being 
who  does  indeed  guide  and  guard  the  in- 
dividual man. 

As  an  Associated  Press  correspondent, 
Mr.  Haugland  flew  to  New  Guinea  from 
Australia,  but  his  arrival  in  New  Guinea 
was  entirely  different  from  that  which  he 
had  expected  to  make.  He  had  to  bale  out 
over  the  jungle,  and  his  experiences  in  get- 
ting back  to  the  Allied  lines  are  what  make 
his  story  assume  such  proportions  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  read  it.— M.  C.  J. 

BOYS  IN  MEN'S  SHOES 

(Harry  E.  Burroughs.  The  Macmillan  Co., 

New  York.   1944.  370  pages.  $3.50.) 

TOD/fY  when  so  much  talk  about  delin- 
quency is  being  indulged  in,  this  book 
of  what  was  done  to  give  boys  a  legitimate 
outlet  for  their  energies  deserves  to  be  wide- 
ly read — and  wisely  followed.  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs, who  himself  had  experienced  the 
hardships  of  the  underprivileged,  knew  ex- 
actly how  to  cope  with  the  problems  of 
these  newsboys  in  such  a  way  as  to  turn 
their  energies  to  good,  and  to  help  them  find 
the  things  they  needed  in  order  to  avoid 
becoming  delinquent,  and  thus  harmful  to 
society. 

Mr.  Burroughs  analyzes  the  needs  of  the 
boys  and  the  ways  in  which  his  newsboys' 
foundation  cared  for  these  needs.  He  also 
tells  about  the  problems  which  confronted 
him  in  trying  to  establish  the  foundation. 
But  the  most  important  part  of  the  book 
deals  with  the  activities  for  the  boys  and 
the  plans  on  the  part  of  the  directors  of  the 
foundation  to  correct  the  attitudes  of  the 
boys  themselves.  The  motto  of  the  founda- 
tion indicates  the  desire  on  the  part  of  the 
directors  to  make  these  young  men  recognize 
their  place  in  society:  Strive-Serve-Save- 
Study. 

In  addition  to  the  foundation,  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs established  the  Agassiz  Village  in 
Maine  where  boys  go  and  receive  instruc- 
tion in  various  arts  as  well  as  in  farming, 
cooking,  and  waiting  table. 

Replete  with  specific  instances,  the  book 
should  be  a  welcome  guide  not  only  to  those 
who  would  help  groups  of  children,  but  also 
to  parents  who  must  meet  similar  prob- 
lems.— M.  C.  /. 


By  CHRISTINE  DRYBURGH 

WE  see  our  flag  every  day  some- 
where, although  we  give  it  slight 
notice.  We  know  it  is  the  great 
emblem  of  our  country  and  all  we  stand 
for  as  a  nation;  but  we  have  to  be 
aroused  from  our  complacence  to  feel 
the  real  grand  thrill  of  a  great  posses- 
sion, a  living,  vital  possession  which  be- 
comes at  once  an  individual  thing  in  our 
hearts.  We  see  in  the  stars  and  stripes 
a  something  that  belongs  to  each  one  of 
us — our  own  United  States. 

To  be  far  from  home  may  bring  a 
better  understanding  and  the  full  mean- 
ing of  what  our  flag  and  country  mean 
to  us.  It  matters  not  if  we  are  enthu- 
siastic over  what  we  see,  or  cast  down 
from  loneliness,  a  glimpse  of  our  flag 
will  make  us  think  of  all  for  which  it 
stands. 

I  once  stood  in  the  "old  Colton  Hill 
cemetery"  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  be- 
side the  mausoleum  of  a  famous  writer. 
I  was  glad  to  see  this,  along  with  other 
things  I  had  come  to  see;  only  I  could 
not  help  feeling  lonely  in  the  strange 
city.  And  just  as  I  was  turning  to  leave 
the  cemetery,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
American  flag.  I  hurried  over  to  it  and 
found  it  bright  and  beautiful  above  a 
statue  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  taking  the 
chains  from  a  Negro  slave. 

My  loneliness  was  all  gone  beside 
my  flag.  It  spoke  to  me  of  all  that  I 
loved  and  cherished  and  to  which  I 
would  soon  return. 

My  first  visit  to  Frederick,  Maryland, 
was  something  to  remember  forever.  I 
saw  the  flag  and  the  name  of  Francis 
Scott  Key,  and  I  thought  of  our  im- 
mortal national  anthem  with  its  inspira- 
tion and  power,  the  author's  mantle  still 
falling  upon  every  loyal  American. 

A  little  later  I  saw  the  flag  again;  it 
was  flying  from  an  old-fashioned  attic 
window  which  had  been  the  home  of 
Barbara  Frietchie.  I  wanted  to  linger 
here;  it  was  holy  ground.  It  told  of  the 
greatness  of  a  woman  and  the  change  of 
heart  in  a  man  when  he  recognized  the 
flag  of  his  country. 

We  are  surely  without  love,  without 
sentiment,  without  appreciation  of  the 
most  wonderful  country  in  the  world, 
if  we  have  never  felt  a  thrill  or  stirred  to 
the  highest  patriotism  when  we  see  the 
same  stars  and  stripes.  We  have  seen 
it  in  the  gloom  of  war,  in  the  cry  of  vic- 
tory, in  the  glory  of  peace  and  in  the 
church  where  we  worship.  Our  flag, 
our  country,  a  part  of  ourselves! 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Resume  of  Laws 

(Concluded  from  page  430) 
In  the  event  of  the  death  or  removal 
from  office  of  the  corporate  authorities 
or  the  probate  judge,  any  lands  entered 
in  trust  to  such  officers  were  to  be 
vested  in  their  successors  to  office.  Any 
lands  unclaimed  six  months  after  notice 
were  to  be  surveyed  and  the  land 
divided  into  suitable  blocks  for  public 
squares  or  buildings  or  farming  lots  and 
recorded  in  the  recorder's  office.  All 
land  not  used  by  the  county,  city,  or 
town  government  was  to  be  sold  at  pub- 
lic auction  at  not  less  than  $5.00  per 
acre  or  fraction  thereof,  and  any  land 
left  unpurchased  was  to  be  sold  at  pub- 
lic or  private  sale  at  a  price  most  bene- 
ficial. 


Music 

[Concluded  /rom  page  454) 
touches  the  heart  is  of  more  influence 
than  that  which  produces  a  loud  sound. 
Let  us  not  neglect  hymns  of  spiritual 
significance,  such  as  "Lord,  Accept  Our 
True  Devotion,"  "Praise  God  from 
Whom  All  Blessings  Flow,"  "Let  the 
Holy  Spirit's  Promptings  be  Your 
Guide,"  "Prayer  is  the  Soul's  Sincere 
Desire."  On  the  contrary,  let  us  sing 
them  often. 

We  hope  that  the  application  of  the 
three  principles  here  outlined  will  in- 
crease the  enjoyment  and  spiritual 
quality  and  strength  of  congregational 
singing. 

Song  of  the  Month 

The  songs  recommended  for  especial 
attention  during  the  coming  months  are 
the  following : 

July:  "O  Say,  What  is  Truth,"  number 
76  in  Sunday  School  Song  Book 

August:  "God  of  Our  Fathers,"  number 
147  in  the  same  book 

September:  "Lord,  We  Come  Before 
Thee  Now,"  number  155,  same  book 

In  the  first  of  these  songs  we  shall 
be  singing  largely  to  ourselves  concern- 
ing the  wonderful  and  priceless  value 
of  truth.  The  second  and  third  of  these 
songs  are  addressed  to  our  Heavenly 
Father.  Let  no  director  rudely  inter- 
rupt these  prayers,  either  by  the  force 
of  his  personality  or  by  a  single  spoken 
word.  The  congregation  is  praying  and 
worshiping  when  it  sings. 


LONG  BEACH  STAKE  MISSIONARIES 

Long  Beach  Stake  missionaries,  who  were 
report  meeting  November  14.  They  totaled 
then,  and  now  have  91. 


BOISE  STAKE  ELDERS'  BANQUET 

On  February  4,  1944,  the  four  elders  quorums  of  the  Boise  Stake  were  hosts  at  their  annual  banquet  to 
some  245  persons,  including  the  Boise  Stake  presidency,  Melchizedek  Priesthood  quorum  advisers  ward 
bishoprics,  and  the  elders  and  their  partners.  A  number  of  adult  members  of  the  Aaronic  Priesthood  were 
also  present  by  special  invitation.  It  was  prepared  by  the  Boise  First  Ward  Relief  Society  and  served  bv  the 
First  Ward  Gleaners. 

Much  of  the  food  served  at  this  banquet  was  produced  by  the  local  elders'  quorums  in  their  welfare 
projects. — Reported  by  Chairman  W.  Ralph  Marsh. 


IDAHO  FALLS  STAKE 
GOLDEN  GLEANERS 


in  /Iwn1  c?f  r?"'S  were  honored  guests  at  a  beautiful  "rainbow  review"  reception  held  recently 
ThmJI  R  ♦*,  i  -  JlOS?  c  the  Ph°t°°raph  °™  left  to  right,  Nellie  Ingram,  Norma  Lewis,  Betty 
i  -L\  u '  eth  Jr"rJ''  MarLe  {gZert',  and  Lucilc  Slater-  Th°se  «*  Present  ore:  Jo  Ann  Picketf  Betty 
^^hZt^n^/WIPM**!1  M™  Hunter  at  B.Y.U.,  in  Provo,  Utah;  Gladys  Williaml 
Twin  Falls,  Rayold  Lundblade,  Idaho  Falls,  and  Betty  Millespaw,  Washington. 


at 
84 


LATTER-DAY  SAINT  SUNDAY  SCHOOL.  MINERAL  WELLS,  TEXAS 

Front  row,  left  to  right:    Don  R.  McPhie,  Ruel  Bodily,  Wayne  W.  Nelson    Calvin  Sandbura    BirharH 
Norton,  Arthur  Anderson,  Raymond  Dewell.  Steve  Poulos,  Glen  Larsen  Sandburg,  Richard 

i       Cert%r/0W,:,  Mr;,?"d**rs-  MaY»ard  Garfield,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  LaMel  Morris,  Mr.  and  Mrs  Rov  Pell  Elder 
Wright  '  ^  E'ma  M"an°'  ^  Ra"Ce  C°Pe'Pyt  CSe   Mrs    Ellen  M 

a     ?°uk ,r0W:^PLck ,L?r>d[trom,  Calvin  Craig,  Merle  Selin,  Robert  Shippley,  Glen  Colder    Glen  E    Larsen 

wartime  city  were  exhausted,  facilities  of  one  of  the  large  hotels  in  Mineral  Wells  were  offered  the  arouo 
-Reported  by  JohnT'welni      ^^  m°nager  had  with  the  iormer  senator  from  Utah<  W'"'™  ».  King. 


JULY,   1944 


457 


Home -Grown 
Vegetables, 

Utah's 

Home -Owned 

Evaporated  Milk 

Tastes  Better! 


>H 


ft 


A^ 


>r* 


\> 


l#£?w7; 


It's  mighty  satisfying  to  eat 
vegetables  from  your  own 
Victory  garden,  and  to  use 
Morning  Milk  —  both  home- 
owned  products,  born  and 
raised  in  Utah! 

You  CanTaste 
Its  Finer  Flavor! 


jji*o» 


jt» 


WSk 


MORNING  MILK 


M 
U 

s 

I 

c 


■■• 


FDR 

CHURCHES 
and  SCHOOLS 

Large  stocks  are  carried  for  vocal 
and  instrumental  solos,  choirs, 
bands  and  orchestras.  There  is  but 
limited  curtailment  by  the  govern- 
ment in  the  publishing  of  music  and 
your  requirements  can  be  reason- 
ably supplied.  Mail  orders  filled 
promptly  or  write  for  catalogues 
and  special  lists. 

WE    CARRY    VICTOR,    COLUMBIA 
AND  OTHER  RECORDS. 

While  the  manufacture  of  pianos 
and  band  instruments  was  discon- 
tinued 18  months  ago  by  the  gov- 
ernment, due  to  war  conditions,  we 
still  have  limited  stocks  of  this  class 
of  merchandise  and  invite  you  to 
write   for    further   information. 

DAYNES  MUSIC  CO. 


/  few  ^4c 


vnzond 


In  the  few  weeks  I  have  been  on  duty 
in  my  home  state  of  Utah  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Women's  Army  Corps, 
many  friends  and  fellow  members  of  the 
Church  have  asked  me,  "Has  your  serv- 
ice in  the  WAC  changed  your  attitude 
towards  the  Church  and  its  teachings?" 
Another  question  I  am  occasionally 
asked  is,  "Has  the  WAC  changed 
you?"  My  answer  to  both  of  these 
questions  is  an  emphatic  "Yes." 

Since  I  enlisted  in  the  Women's 
Army  Corps  more  than  a  year  ago,  my 
attitude  towards  a  great  many  things  has 
altered,  and  I  know  that  I,  too,  have 
changed.  But  the  change,  I  hope,  has 
been  one  for  the  better.  I  know  it  has 
been  in  many  ways. 

Since  my  service,  I  have  turned  to  the 
Church  more  than  ever  before  in  my  life, 
and  I  have  benefited  greatly  by  this 
greater  dependence  upon  religious 
guidance.  In  addition,  I  have  had  to 
delve  deeper  into  the  teachings  of  the 
Church  to  answer  questions  otner  mem- 
bers of  the  WAC  frequently  ask.  Thus, 
I  have  gained  a  greater  spiritual  under- 
standing and  more  specific  knowledge 
about  the  Church. 

To  a  few,  this  seems  strange.  They 
seem  to  feel  that  because  I  am  mingling 
constantly  with  women  from  all  parts 
of  the  country,  from  all  walks  of  life, 
and  from  all  religions,  that  my  standards 
would  change. 

Admittedly,  this  association  has  been 
and  still  is  a  challenge.  As  other  mem- 
bers of  the  WAC  discovered  that  some 
of  us  were  from  Utah,  they  immediately 
concluded  that  we  were   Mormons — 


By  LT.   NOMA   ROBERTS 

Women's  Army  Corps 


which  was  true  in  the  majority  of  cases. 
This  brought  to  us  the  responsibility  of 
living  our  religion  and  proving  by  ex- 
ample what  we  believed — the  Word  of 
Wisdom,  faith,  love,  tolerance,  and 
other  basic  teachings  of  the  Church. 
Thus,  instead  of  being  influenced  by  the 
attitude  of  others,  our  actions  influenced 
them.  In  this  way,  many  of  the  L.D.S. 
women  virtually  became  missionaries. 

To  do  this  and  to  answer  the  myriad 
questions  asked  about  Joseph  Smith, 
eternal  marriage,  the  Word  of  Wisdom, 
and  other  phases  of  the  church,  it  be- 
came necessary  for  us  to  study  more 
than  ever  before.  We  read  more  dili- 
gently the  Book  of  Mormon,  the  Pearl 
of  Great  Price,  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants, and  other  Church  books.  We 
wrote  home  for  instructions  and  inter- 
pretations of  what  we  had  read.  In  this 
manner,  we  learned  more  about  the 
Church,  we  were  able  to  answer  ques- 
tions accurately,  and  we  gained  much 
because  we  understood  many  things 
which  before  we  took  for  granted. 

I  have  gained  much  from  the  WAC. 
I  have  had  the  opportunity  to  serve,  to 
meet  new  people,  to  see  new  places.  I 
have  developed  a  broader  outlook  on 
life — and  I  am  thankful  that  I  have  been 
able  to  do  my  part.  Being  a  member 
of  the  WAC  has  increased  my  powers 
of  understanding,  my  patience  and  tol- 
erance. I  have  gained  a  greater  appre- 
ciation of  my  Church  and  its  teachings. 
Because  of  these  things,  I  am  grateful 
for  the  opportunity  I  have  had  of  being 
a  member  of  the  Women's  Army  Corps. 


CONFIDENCE 


458 


47  S.   Main  £t. 


Salt  Lake  City 


(Continued  from  page  431) 
young  man  who  was.   not  much  of  a 
Mormon  say,  "Looks  like  someone  put 
sort  of  a  hokus-pokus  on  the  old  boy 
for  tonight." 

"I'm  afraid  it  won't  last,"  replied 
Adam. 

Mile  after  mile  we  went,  with  me 
thinking  about  the  sad  ending  of  a  short, 
happy  married  life  and  wondering  what 
minute  the  horse  would  decide  to  make 
me  ride  as  I  had  never  ridden  before. 

I  enjoyed  the  ride,  for  it  was  early 
May  and  just  the  kind  of  night  one 
longs  for  after  a  cold  winter.  I  let  the 
horse  go  about  where  he  wished  and 
was  surprised  when  he  cut  across  the 
main  canyon  and  started  up  a  small 
ravine  and  finally  onto  a  short  ridge  that 
led  to  the  long  one  I  wanted  to  go  up. 
I  had  never  known  of  that  trail. 

A  coyote  howled  up  the  ridge  and  a 
dog  barked  an  answer.  I  knew  that 
where  a  dog  was  there  would  also  be  a 
man,  so  I  rode  on.  More  dogs  began 
barking  and  presently  I  saw  the  sheep 
wagon  on  top  of  a  hill.  When  I  got  to 
it  the  herder  was  standing  in  the  door- 
way.  It  was  one  of  the  men  I  wanted, 


so  in  a  few  words  I  told  him  the  sad 
news.  He  stood  there  in  silence  and 
then  asked  me  to  get  off,  tie  my  horse 
up,  and  get  in  his  bed  while  he  went  and 
notified  the  others.  I  explained  that  the 
horse  I  was  riding  was  an  outlaw  and 
could  not  be  tied  up.  I  asked  him  to 
hold  the  horse  while  I, got  off  and  moved 
my  saddle  front  a  few  inches. 

He  took  the  hackamore  rope  and  I 
got  off.  He  was  a  good  hand  with 
horses  so  volunteered  to  move  the  sad- 
dle. The  first  gray  streaks  of  dawn  were 
appearing  in  the  east  when  I  prepared 
to  mount.  The  man  held  the  horse's 
head  and  I  slipped  into  the  saddle. 

"Some  outlaw — in  name  only,"  he 
commented  when  he  handed  me  the 
hackamore  rope. 

The  horse  took  a  few  steps  up  the 
ridge  and  when  I  tried  to  make  him  go 
down  it  he  stood  still.  I  touched  him 
with  my  spurs  and  immediately  I  was 
on  top  of  a  tornado.  The  first  jump 
nearly  popped  my  head  off  and  when 
he  lit  it  was  like  a  thousand  bricks  fall- 
ing that  jarred  every  bone  in  my  body. 
My  ears  were  ringing  and  my  head  felt 
as  if  it  would  burst.    I  had  never  been 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Confidence 


much  of  a  broncho  buster.  I  usually  rode 
free  for  a  couple  of  jumps,  pulled  leath- 
er for  a  few  more,  and  then  proceeded 
to  plow  up  half  an  acre  of  sagebrush 
when  I  lit. 

I  was  pulling  leather  and  felt  that  I 
was  losing  my  balance.  Then  quick  as  a 
flash  came  to  me  the  words  of  the  bish- 
op— "I  have  confidence  in  your  ability 
to  bring  him  back  and  I  don't  want  to 
see  you  come  limping  down  the  road — " 

A  strange  something  came  over  me.  I 
knew  I  could  ride  that  horse,  so  I  got 
a  good  cinch  hold  with  my  spurs  and 
began  riding.  My  hat  went  off.  I  was 
getting  a  bit  tired  of  that  continual  buck- 
ing and  remembered  that  Lige  Perkins 
who  was  an  old  time  broncho  buster 
had  once  said,  "If  a  horse  wants  to 
buck,  let  him  buck,  but  give  him  some- 
thing to  buck  for." 

Immediately  I  got  my  spurs  free  and 
began  to  rake  the  animal  from  shoulders 
to  flanks  and  every  time  he  went  up  I 
would  swing  the  end  of  my  hackamore 
rope  around  and  catch  him  under  the 
belly,  lifting  him  a  few  feet  higher  than 
he  had  intended  going.  Soon  he  began 
to  squeal,  and  his  bucking  became  mere 
cat  hops. 

When  he  gave  up,  the  sheepherder 
came  with  my  hat  and  said,  "Get  off  and 
I'll  get  you  another  horse  to  ride  back 

and  I'll  get  a  gun  and  shoot  the  — 

where  he  stands." 

I  got  off,  sick  as  could  be.  My  nose 
was  bleeding  and  the  front  and  sleeves, 
of  my  light-colored  shirt  were  saturated 
with  blood.  I  began  to  vomit  great  clots 
that  reminded  me  of  liver.  The  herder 
brought  me  a  cup  of  water  to  drink  and 
a  wash  basin  full  with  which  to  wash  my 
face.  After  this  I  felt  better.  I  now  had 
all  the  confidence  in  the  world  in  my 
ability  to  ride  that  animal  until  he 
dropped,  so  I  mounted  and  rode  down 
the  ridge. 

The  sun  was  possibly  an  hour  high 
when  I  rode  up  to  the  cemetery  gate.  I 
saw  six  or  eight  men  digging  the  grave. 
My  cousin  saw  me  and  walked  over  to 
where  I  was.  The  bishop  climbed  out  of 
the  grave  and  started  over  to  where  we 
were.  His  face  was  white  with  dust 
and  long  streaks  of  sweat  were  running 
down  from  his  brow.  He  took  a  hand- 
kerchief from  his  pocket  and  wiped  his 
face  as  he  came  on.  Without  looking 
at  me  he  asked  if  I  had  found  the  boys. 
I  told  him  I  had  found  Paul,  and  he  was 
going  to  notify  the  others  and  they 
would  be  down  for  the  services.  Then 
he  looked  up  and  saw  my  shirt.  He 
also  saw  the  long  spur  scratches  on  the 
horse  and  asked,  "You  and  Blue  Steel 
have  some  sort  of  a  disagreement?" 

"Yes,  sort  of." 

Then  he  walked  over  and  placed  his 
arm  partly  around  me  and  said, 
"Thanks  a  lot  for  going  after  the  boys. 
I'm  glad  this  happened.  Trouble  with 
you  youngsters  is  you  have  the  courage 
of  a  tiger  and  the  ability  to  accomplish 
almost  anything.  Only  thing  you  lack 
is  confidence  and  that  comes  by  doing 
what  you  think  is  impossible." 

JULY,  1944 


Young 


SERVICE  MEN  IN  BRAZIL 
Standing,  left  to  right:  Sgt.  Clyde  Graehl,  Sgt.  Lewis  Smith,  Cpl.  George  Doyle,  Sgt.  Weeks,  Sgt.  Daren 


no. 

Seated,  left  to  right;    Pfc.  Leslie  Morrell,  Sgt.  Ralph  Simmons,  Lt.  Franklin  Shafer,  Chief  Petty  Officer 
Lewdly n  Kuester,  and  Cpl.  Bouch. 


THE  UNITED  ORDER 


(Continued  from  page  432) 
Nowhere  does  the  Prophet  apply  a 
specific  designation  to  the  system  de- 
rived from  compliance  with  "the  law  of 
the  Church"6  but  the  principle  of  con- 
secration of  property  and  acceptance 
of  the  status  of  stewardship,  often  re- 
ferred to,  suggest  the  appropriateness 
of  the  title,  order  of  stewardships,  an 
appellation  used  by  Orson  Pratt  in 
1 854/ 

The  stewardship  system  was  not  the 
plan  urged  by  President  Young  in  1 872- 
74,  and  hence  it  was  desirable  to  find  a 
term  that  would  more  appropriately 
suggest  the  essential  characteristics  of 
the  new  association.  United  order  was 
most  apt,  suggesting  economic  as  well 
as  spiritual  unity  and  connoting  close 
relationship  to  the  plans  laid  down  in 
modern  revelation. 

In  view  of  the  considerations  stated, 
it  is  suggested,  first,  that  Joseph  Smith's 
plan  for  social  welfare  be  referred  to 
as  the  System  or  Order  of  Consecra- 
tions and  Stewardships,  or  briefly  as  the 
Order  of  Stewardships;  second,  that 
Brigham  Young's  plan  for  social  wel- 
fare be  referred  to  as  the  United  Order; 
third,  that  the  restricted  co-partnership 
called  without  discrimination  by  the 
Prophet  the  united  order,  united  firm, 
and  order  of  Enoch,  be  carefully  dis- 
tinguished from  the  ancient  order  of 
Enoch  and  the  united  order  as  planned 
by  Brigham  Young. 

'"Phe  essence  of  Joseph  Smith's  plan 
■*■  was  that  the  holder  of  property  was 
a  trustee  for  the  Lord.  The  acceptance 
by  a  member  of  the  concept  of  trustee- 
ship was  evidenced  in  the  first  instance 
by  the  transfer  by  deed  of  gift  of  his 
possessions  to  the  bishop  as  the  Lord's 

^History  o[  the  Church  1:148 
7 Journal  0}  Discourses  11:100 


authorized  representative,  and  subse- 
quently by  the  regular  surrender  of 
surplus  income  to  the  same  officer.  Ex- 
cept as  evidence  of  compliance,  it  was 
not  necessary  that  title  to  all  the 
member's  property  be  actually  trans- 
ferred, for  that  part  of  it  to  be  retained 
as  a  stewardship  could  more  simply  be 
left  in  his  hands;  but  it  was  essential 
that  the  position  of  trusteeship  be  ac- 
knowledged and  that  it  govern  subse- 
quent use  of  the  property  and  its  in- 


crease. 


In  Joseph  Smith's  program,  every 
head  of  family  was  to  hold  legal  title 
to  a  parcel  of  land.  Bishop  Partridge 
and  the  Prophet  disagreed  on  this  point, 
the  former  believing  that  only  right  of 
use  through  a  revocable  lease  should  be 
granted.  Under  the  lease  system  trans- 
gressors could  be  practically  excluded 
from  the  community  by  the  voiding  of 
the  lease.  Under  the  Prophet's  plan,  an 
apostate  could  not  reclaim  that  which  he 
had  given  to  the  Church  by  consecra- 
tion, but  his  title  to  the  portion  of  land 
held  by  deed  was  not  to  be  disputed. 
Under  the  Prophet's  scheme  the  stew- 
ard retained  his  free  agency. 

In  setting  up  the  United  Order,  Brig- 
ham Young  accepted  as  basic  the  idea 
that  the  possessor  of  wealth  was  trustee 
for  the  Lord.  He  had  at  an  earlier 
period  called  upon  all  the  members  of 
the  Church  to  recognize  this  relationship 
of  the  individual  and  the  Church  by 
transferring  title  to  all  possessions.8  But 
by  1874,  he  had  developed  a  conviction 
in  the  usefulness  of  the  corporate  form 
of  organization  for  the  management  of 
property  and  provided  articles  of  as- 
sociation for  the  United  Order  that 
permitted  share  ownership  proportion- 
ate to  invested  property.  Withdrawal 
was  discouraged  in  the  non-legal  asso- 
( Continued  on  page  46 1 ) 

459 


^^V.VJA^^fA^VCWC<»MftV»««4«««« 


>>NXX««frX«y.t.«A:ili,;v 


^xcoc<»^^^*^>^?wxc^ 


0 


%z>*^ 


*x^ 


^Z 


I'll  predict  no -miles -an -hour. 


I'll  hand  it  to  folks.  They've  had  the 
patriotism  to  hold  down  their  speed. 
But  imagine  war  restrictions  ended. 
Man,  you'll  see  old  cars  overdoing 
till  they  can't  chug  another  mile. 
You'll  see  every  repair  shop  crowded 
for  months,  but  I'm  figuring  to  duck 
that!  Of  course,  I  couldn't  see  every- 
thing corning  when  I  originally  had 
this  engine  oil-plated.  I'd  simply 
overheard  that  any  engine  forms 
dangerous  corrosive  acids.  It  made 
sense  to  try  protecting  the  engine  by 
oil-plating  it  with  Conoco  N*A 
motor  oil.  I  switched  to  N^.  You 
can  suit  yourself  about  thinking  it's 
the  only  oil  or  not,  but  first  read 


the  whole  label.  You'll  see  where 
Conoco  N^i  oil's  special  synthetic 
fastens  oil-plating  to  your  engine's 
fine  inside  finish.  Then  OIL-PLATING 
is  really  sort  of  a  special  surface  to 
block  steady  acid  corrosion.  When 
repairs  might  be  just  a  promise,  and 
you  can  only  pray  for  a  new  car, 
you're  way  ahead  with  your  engine 
safely  oil-plated  by  Conoco  N*A. 


CONOCO 


MOTOR      OIL 


Am 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA, 


The  United  Order 

{Continued  from  page  459) 
ciations  by  forfeiture  of  half  the  book- 
value  of  the  withdrawing  member  un- 
less he  had  remained  in  the  association 
five  years. 

In  Joseph  Smith's  Order  of  Steward- 
ships each  member  managed  his  affairs 
as  best  he  could.  True,  he  might  be 
called  to  new  responsibilities  by  the  au- 
thority of  the  priesthood,  as  Edward 
Partridge  had  been  called  to  abandon 
merchandizing  for  the  ministry;  but  if 
a  farmer  or  a  mechanic,  he  was  free  to 
plan  his  own  employment,  withdrawing 
from  the  avails  of  his  labor  what  he 
deemed  essential  for  the  support  and 
comfort  of  his  family.  His  surplus  was 
consecrated,  that  is,  passed  on  to  the 
bishop  for  the  use  of  the  Church.  It  will 
be  observed  that  the  system  differs  in 
many  ways  from  communistic  forms  of 
social  organization,  among  which  dif- 
ferences is  the  wide  latitude  afforded 
for  the  exercise  of  individual  initiative 
in  the  management  of  property  and  in 
the  satisfaction  of  personal  wants. 
Members  could  freely  buy,  sell,  ex- 
change, and  consume,  but  they  could 
not  retain  permanently,  either  in  kind 
or  by  conversion,  the  surplus  product  of 
their  efforts.  On  the  other  hand,  should 
the  returns  from  their  labors  be  insuffi- 
cient to  supply  their  own  needs,  they 
could  draw  from  the  storehouses  of  the 
bishop  such  things  as  they  required. 

"Drigham  Young,  driven  by  a  tremen- 
■^  dous  urge  to  realize  a  self-sufficing 
commonwealth,  and  impatient  at  the  in- 
competency of  the  rank  and  file  at- 
tempted to  make  his  people  wealthy 
through  cooperation  directed  by  in- 
telligent leadership.  Under  this  system 
a  man  was  assigned  by  the  board  of 
directors  under  the  immediate  super- 
vision of  a  foreman  or  superintendent. 

Making  due  allowance  for  changes  in 
circumstances,  it  might  be  asserted  that 
President  Young  merely  modified,  rath- 
er than  abandoned,  the  stewardship 
system.  Naturally,  with  land  so  easily 
possessed,  almost  everyone  wanted  a 
farm,  and  having  one,  wanted  to  farm 
it  to  the  exclusion  of  labors  he  was  more 
competent  to  perform.  Under  the 
Prophet's  system  a  man's  work  was  his 
stewardship,  and  likewise  it  could  be 
argued  that  in  the  United  Order,  though 
everyone  was  on  a  wage  basis,  the  as- 
signed task  was  the  stewardship, 
though  it  was  not  generally  so  regarded. 

The  measure  of  success  in  both  plans 
is  the  emergence  of  a  surplus,  something 
in  excess  of  current  family  needs  that 
might  accumulate  in  the  hands  of  the 
bishop  or  his  agent  for  common  pur- 
poses. In  the  Order  of  Stewardships 
family  surpluses  were  surrendered  vol- 
untarily at  periodic  intervals  and  there 
was  considerable  latitude  for  individual 
determination  of  current  needs.  In  the 
United  Order  current  consumption  was 
controlled  by  a  system  of  wage  debits 
(Concluded  on  page  462) 

8See  "The  Consecration  Movement  of  the  Middle 
'Fifties,"  by  the  author.  The  Improvement  Era.,  F?bru« 
ary  1944.  p.  80,  March  1944,  p,  14.6, 

JULY,  1944 


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FARSIGHTEDNESS 
i&itt  cdwcujA.  cl  handicap. 

For  example,  the  ability  to  look  into  the  future 
and  plan  accordingly  is  a  rare  quality. 

Place  yourself  in  line  for  important  war  work 
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enrolling  for  day  or  evening  classes  at  the 
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FILL  OUT  AND  MAIL  THIS  COUPON  FOR  INFORMATION: 

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Name  

Address 


Gets  PRIORITY 

at  any  meal 

You're  almost  certain  to   find  bread  on 
the  table  at  every  meal — breakfast,  lunch 
or  dinner.     And  when  it's  Royal  Bread 
you  know  it's  good  bread,  en- 
riched with  extra  vitamins  and 


iron. 


Listen  to  "Sam  Adams,  Your  Home 
Front    Quartermaster"    Every    Mon- 
day, Wednesday  and  Friday, 
9:30  A.M.— KSL 


ROYAL  BAKING  COMPANY,  Salt  Lake  and  Ogden 
More  Than  Fifty  Years  oi  Service  and  Progress 


WE  Of  HR  . . . 

A  COMPLETE 
ENGRAVING  SERVICE 

From   Missionary   Portraits    to   the    Largest 

Catalogues 

Mail  Orders  Given  Prompt  Attention 

UTAH  ENGRAVING  CO. 

113  Regent  St.  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


333 


If  you  want  the  BEST  COSTUMES 
for  your  PLAY,  PAGEANT  or 
PATRIOTIC  CELEBRATION 

HILXAMS  COSTUME  SHOP 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


THE  ERA 


12  Issues 


-A  WELCOME  GIFT  AT  ANY  TIME 

$2.00 


The  United  Order 

(Concluded  from  page  461 ) 
and  credits.  The  gross  product  of  com- 
munity and  individual  enterprise  be- 
longed in  the  first  instance  to  the  Order 
and  was  distributed  to  consumers  on 
carefully  controlled  requisitions.  The 
portion  remaining  could  be  used  for 
building  chapels  and  temples,  support- 
ing missions,  and  to  augment  capital. 

In  practice  the  surplus  was  not  often 
realized.  Most  of  the  experiments  were 
of  short  duration — too  short  to  admit 
of  a  proper  test  of  their  adequacy  when 
measured  by  relative  productivity.  Some 
of  the  branches  of  the  United  Order 
reported  greater  farm  yields  than  under 
individualistic  methods  and  the  econ- 
omies of  cooperative  herding  were  un- 
doubtedly great.  On  the  other  hand,  it 
is  evident  from  the  records  that  the 
orders  that  continued  for  three  or  four 
years  fell  far  short  of  the  anticipated 
results. 


462 


Success  House 

(Continued  from  page  435) 

JL  he  following  day  was  fine, 
rarely  warm.  A  thin  coating  of  snow 
upon  the  fields  glistened  in  the  sun, 
darkened  to  blue  and  purple  where 
shadows  lay.  Stubble  that  pierced  the 
snow  and  thawing  lanes  said,  "Spring 
soon!"  It  was  the  sort  of  day  that  can- 
not be  found  in  a  city. 

Amy  was  arraying  herself  in  her  best, 
when  Cecile  tapped  on  her  door. 

Cecile  had  been  crying  again.  "I've 
told  him;  I  just  telephoned  that  I 
wouldn't  see  him — for  a  week!" 

"I'm  glad,  Cecile."  (Steady,  a  little 
cool,  the  child's  agonies  were  so  try- 
ing] ) 

"I  know,  but"  (a  gasp) ,  "Amy,  he — 
he  didn't  understand,  and  he  was  so- 
so  hurt!" 

Amy's  mother  called  up  the  front 
stairs.  "Dear,"  she  said,  *J*m  s  wait- 
ing." 

Jim  turned  in  a  direction  she  didn't 
know.  Ten  years  before,  when  she'd 
lived  at  home,  motoring  had  not  been  so 
general  as  it  was  now.  It  was  a  lovely 
country  of  smooth,  rolling  hills,  gentle 
valleys,  and  placid  farms. 

There  was  quiet  in  the  car.  She  had 
vowed  to  keep  silent  and  to  let  him  talk 
if  he  wished  it.  But  it  seemed  that  he 
could  keep  silent,  too.  Jim  drove  at  the 
conservative  pace  that  was  physically 
and  mentally  his,  and  that,  if  held  to, 
takes  one  far.  At  the  top  of  a  long, 
lovely  hill  he  brought  his  car  to  a  stand- 
still, and  turned  to  her. 

"Amy,"  he  said,  "I  asked  you  to  go 
out  with  me  today  because  I  feel  I  must 
say  something  to  you."  He  stole  a  side 
glance  at  her.  She  was  raising  her 
shoulders  and  her  eyebrows  and  smiling 
all  to  herself,  as  small  women  can  who 
wish  to  be  mean.  He  flushed,  but  his 
jaw  set. 

"Iconoclasts,"  he  said,  "fire  bricks  at 
altars.    They  don't  build.   They  merely 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Success  House 

smash.  I'm  afraid — you're  one.  You 
came  home;  you  found  your  little  sister 
very  happy  because  she  loved  that  nice 
youngster,  Harvey  Lane,  Now,  every 
time  I  go  to  your  house  I  find  her  eye- 
lids red.  Why?  Because  you  think 
Harvey  won't  get  on.  ..." 

She  broke  in.  "I  wanted  her  to  see, 
to  measure,  to  try  to  get  somewhere." 
Although  her  voice  was  smooth,  she  was 
shaking  from  rage. 

"Where  is  that  somewhere?  You 
made  money,  but  where  is  it  now?  And, 
remember,  the  seeing  and  measuring 
have  only  made  you  bitter,  unhappy, 
unfair  in  your  judgment  of  others,  and 
unkind  to  them  and  to  yourself.  If  I 
ask  your  father's  help,  your  chin  goes 
up.  You  think,  'Noble  of  him  to  throw 
his  help  our  way!'  And  you  think  it  with 
a  sneer  that  does  something  to  you  that 
isn't  pretty.  But  your  father,  who 
knows  how  it  embitters  one  to  look 
back  on  past  glories  and  material  pos- 
sessions, says  warmly,  gently,  'Why, 
fine,  Jim!  I'd  be  real  glad  to  help  you 
out!'  " 

"What  does  he  get  out  of  it?"  she 
broke  in,  almost  shrilly.  "Our  fields  are 
being  sold  and  our  house  is  tumbling 
down.  What  does  he  get  from  think- 
ing blindly?" 

"He  gets  that  peace  of  God  you  hear 
about  in  church,  the  peace  that  passes 
all  understanding,"  Jim  Grisby  an- 
swered; "and  he  doesn't  think  blindly. 
He  thinks  and  sees  sanely.  He  knows 
he  has  the  greatest  wealth  any  man 
can  have:  the  love  of  his  neighbors;  a 
good  wife,  two  girls,  and  a  boy.  'None 
better!'  he  says  of  you  all,  and  he  means 
it.  He  sees  nothing  wrong  even  in  a 
girl  who,  because  she  has  a  home  to 
come  to  and  comes  to  it,  sees  life  as 
over. 

"Is  that  your — your  matter?" 

"Yes,"  he  assured  her,  "it's  my  mat- 
ter." 

"Why?  Just — why — Mr.  Grisby?" 
Rage  made  her  gasp. 

"You've  contributed  nothing  but  dis- 
content to  that  house — no  work,  no  hap- 
piness, and  every  member  of  every  fam- 
ily ought  to  give  those  to  a  house.  You 
brood  about  success — you  don't  know 
what  it  means!"  he  stated.  "You  little 
idiot,  you  are  living  with  a  house  full 
of  successes  and  then" — he  paused  and 
smiled — "and  then,"  he  pushed  on,  "you 
ask  why  this  is  my  matter.  You're  so 
absorbed  with  self  that  you  don't  even 
see  that — I  love  you  and  that  I  wish 
with  all  my  heart  and  every  drop  of 
blood  in  my  body  that  you  were  differ- 
ent, all  you  could  be,  so  I  could  add  to 
my  'I  love  you,'  'Will  you  marry  me?'  " 

"I  hate  you!"  she  flung  out,  voice 
shaking. 

"Well,  that's  something!"  he  said, 
and  he  started  his  car  and  turned  toward 
home. 

At  the  Arnold's  door,  she  did  not  in- 
vite him  in  but  stalked  into  the  house. 

She  passed  Cecile  on  the  stairs.  Ce- 

cile  was  sobbing.  Then  Jim,  who,  despite 

{Continued  on  page  464) 

JULY,  1944 


GOOD  IDEAS 

..-'■  :AT  . 

^uMk  Poi$  Stfoed. 

AND  DEALERS 


STEAMY  BATHROOMS 


Wall  finishes  here  "take  a 
beating!"  Paint  'em  with 
Fuller  Fullerglo-withstands 
splashing,  steam  and 
repeated  washings. 
Decorator- selected  colors. 


UTAH 

W  hile  the  doctors  and  nutses  from  our 
state  are  with  our  armed  forces,  other 
thousands  of  home  front  doctors  are 
fighting  doubly  hard  to  keep  their  fel- 
low-citizens in  good  health. 

We  of  Overland  Greyhound  Lines 
pay  tribute  to  our  doctors.  Overland 
Greyhound's  job  is  different — but  vital, 
too!  Providing  transportation  to  unify 
our  war  efforts,  is  really  important  now. 

OVERLAND 

EYHOUND 


UN£5 

Operated  by 
INTERSTATE  TRANSIT  LINES 


Yes.,  .all  that  bread 
needs  is  this  deli- 
cious, flavorful  jelly 
quality  in  the  famed 
Tea  Garden  tradition. 


I  have  received  The  Improvement  Era  for  the  last  three  months.  I  don't 
know  whom  to  thank  for  this,  but  I'm  sure  you  will.. 

I  am  very  well  pleased  with  it.  And  sorry  I  have  not  had  it  all  the  time. 
I  look  forward  to  its  coming  now  as  much  as  I  do  pay  day,  as  it  holds  more 
in  store  for  me.  It  has  taken  a  place  in  my  heart  that  can  never  be  filled  by 
any  other  magazine. 

I  want  to  thank  whoever  is  responsible  for  its  being  sent  to  me.  And  may 
God  return  the  blessing  in  some  way.  As  to  me  it  is  a  blessing  to  be  able  to 
have  access  to  such  a  wonderful  magazine. 

Cpl.  Marion  M.  Bassett 


463 


SUCCESS  HOUSE 


{Continued  from  page  463) 
Amy,  had  followed  her  into  the  house, 
called  an  utterly  cheerful,  "Come  on, 
Cecile,  I'd  like  to  see  you!" 

In  her  room,  Amy  closed  the  door  to 
stand  back  of  it,  shaking. 

Decile  had  always  loved 
Jim  Grisby's  house,  and  in  it  now  she 
was  almost  as  happy  as  she  had  been 
before  Amy  came  home.    She  looked 


around  and  her  childish  face  reflected 
loveliness;  the  old  pieces,  all  well 
placed,  the  open  fire  with  the  cheering 
flames  that  cast  shadows. 

"Cecile,"  said  Jim,  "I  want  to  ask 
something.  Where's  Amy's  man  who 
was  bound  to  get  on — succeed? 
Where's  Amy's  successful  young  man?" 

Cecile  gasped.  "Why,  Jim!"  she  said. 

Jim  put  his  hands  on  her  slender 
shoulders  and  laughed.  "Dear  child, 
minds  are  made  for  thoughts,  but  hearts 


are  made  for  loving.   We  know  Amy's 
mistaken.  Go  telephone  that  boy!" 

Cecile  came  back  from  the  telephone, 
misty-eyed  and  flushed. 

Then  came  two  weeks  Amy  would 
never  forget  with  all  trying.  She  had 
been  hardened,  not  softened  by  the  talk 
and  by  something  else  she  would  not 
acknowledge;  and  Harvey  was  back 
with  them,  every  evening!  And  Cecile 
and  he  were  so  absurdly  happy  over  the 
plans  for  the  wedding  and  fixing  the  old 
Lane  place,  a  wreck  if  ever  there  was 
one.    And  Jim  had  pointed  out  their 


..-,..,......,.    -... ......        ■:■-..       ,--.-..     ....-,.   ^....-..r^.^...;..,.^„.^.-.^,,y,<,,.V^,,...      ...  ...,..,,..,...,,...^,.^.. 


■ 


mmm  mm  m 


31* 


Homemade  Skids  Make 
Barrel -Loading  Easier 

Even  when  working  alone  you  can 
load  barrels  of  fuel  from  the 
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low. Hauling  Standard  Gasoline 
or  Diesel  Fuel  to  your  tractors 
will  save  precious  gallons.   Save 


additional  fuel  by  idling  your  en- 
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systems  regularly.  Standard  Gaso- 
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Spray  Early  to  Control 
Disease-Carrying  Flies 


"AHDARD 


t£LY 

SPRAY 


At  the  rate  flies  multi- 
ply, one  destroyed  early 
in  the  season  can  mean 
there'll  be  thousands 
less  to  plague  you  later 
on.  Why  not  start  your 
fly -control  campaign  now  with 
Standard  Fly  Spray?  It  won't 
stain  wallpaper  or  the  finest  fab- 
rics and  is  not  harmful  to  humans. 
It  knocks  insects  dead!  In  pints, 
quarts,  1-  and  5-gallon  containers. 


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REQUIRE  SPECIAL  LUBRICANTS 

Keeping  pace  with  engine  development,  today's  automotive  power- 
transmissions  are  improved  units  that  employ  gears  of  various  types. 

To  withstand  the  extreme  pres- 


Fifth  War  Loan  Drive  on 
—Buy  More  Than  Before 

The  greatest  drive  for  bond  sales 
yet — the  Fifth  War  Loan — opened 
June  12.  Six  billion  dollars  is  the 
quota  for  individuals.  That's  only  a 
part  of  the  total  sales  necessary  to 
carry  on  the  fight.  Buy  more  bonds. 


Window  Slides  Lubricated 
With  Easy-to-use  Wax 

A  few  daubs  with  a  cloth  dipped 
in  Standard  Liquid  Wax  will  keep 
windows  from  sticking;  old  bed- 
springs  from  squeaking.  It's  easy 
to  use  on  floors,  too.  Apply  a  thin 
coat  and  let  it  dry  for  30  or  40 
minutes  before  polishing.  A  pint 
covers  approximately  500  square 


feet.  For  asphaltic  type  floors,  as 
well  as  all  other  surfaces,  use 
Standard  Self-Polishing  Wax. 


STANDARD   OF   CALIFORNIA 


sures  and  temperatures  caused  by 
loads,  and  action  of  different  gears, 
Standard  of  California  has  devel- 
oped several  specialized  gear  lu- 
bricants. 

On  the  relatively  slow-speed 
driving  gears  in  tractors,  straight 
mineral  RPM  Gear  Oil  cushions 
the  jolts  of  changing  loads.  It  re- 
duces wear  to  a  minimum,  resists 
heat  and  flows  freely  in  cold 
weather.  Zerolene  Gear  Oil,  an- 
other straight  mineral  lubricant, 
sells  at  a  lower  price.  It's  an  old 
favorite  of  many  farmers  for  use 
in  tractors  and  some  trucks. 


SHOULD  FLOW  FREELY 
AT  LOW  TEMPERATURES 


MUST  LET  GEARS 
SHIFT  EASILY 


MUST  RESIST  H 
AND  SLUDGING 


TO  REDUCE  WEAR 


RPM  Gear  Lubricant  (Com- 
pounded), another  of  the  Standard 
group,  is  specially  made  to  provide 
a  wide  margin  of  safety  for  gears 
(except  hypoids)  in  modern  cars 
and  trucks.  It's  also  used  in  trac- 
tors and  on  bronze  worm  gears. 

Specially  compounded,  RPM 
Hypoid  Lubricant  protects  all 
hypoids  against  the  extreme  con- 
ditions developed  by  the 
peculiar  wiping  action  of 
the  teeth  of  these  gears. 

For  more  information 
and  suggestions,  see  your 
Standard  Man.  e 


464 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


SUCCESS  HOUSE 


father  didn't  look  well,  as  if  they  could- 
n't see!  Always  interfering,  implying 
that  he  alone  cared! 

Whenever  Jim  came,  Amy  left  the 
room. 

At  the  end  of  those  two  weeks  Harry 
Arnold  woke  one  morning  with  a  fever 
so  high  that  he  didn't  quite  know  where 
he  was  or  remember  his  age.  He  had 
stepped  back  to  younger  years  and 
Amy,  waiting  for  the  doctor's  coming, 
heard  him  murmur,  "Losing  it,  the  place 
.  .  .  suppose  I  will  .  .  .  acre  by  acre  .  .  . 
but  the  children,  school  .  .  .  keep  them 
happy  . . .  don't  let  them  see  me  worry." 

Then  the  doctor  coming  and  grow- 
ing grave  and  saying,  in  a  whisper, 
"Awfully  sorry  to  report  it,  Mrs,  Arnold 
— pneumonia,  and  pretty  bad!" 

The  house  grew  quiet;  the  neighbors 
came  to  the  back  door  to  open  it  and 
tiptoe  in. 

The  hushed  inquiries  were  kind,  kind. 
These  people,  old  friends,  loved  her  fa- 
ther as  only  the  very  deserving  are 
loved.  "If  there's  anything — anything 
— we  can  do!"  she  heard  dozens  of 
times  a  day  with  stories  of  what  he  had 
done  for  this  or  that  person.  "And 
troubles  of  his  own,"  one  visitor  added, 
"but  he  never  let  those  make  him  blind 
to  the  troubles  of  others." 


Amy  knew,  now,  what  she'd 
been  doing  to  herself,  with  her  new 
creed,  and  how  she  had  lost  her  way. 

And,  too,  she  heard,  "Oh,  everybody 
loves  your  father  and  mother;  we  have 
reason  to!"  And  that  was  often  fol- 
lowed by  a  furtive  dab  of  handkerchief 
to  eyes. 

"I  know,"  Amy  would  agree,  lips  un- 
steady. 

The  kitchen  was  inconvenient,  she 
found,  working  in  it;  there  was  plenty 
for  her  to  do  now.  Her  mother  must 
have  been  too  tired  every  day;  she'd 
change  a  few  things  with — with  this 
past.  "Oh,  God,  make  it  come  out  all 
right!  Make  him  get  well!"  she  begged 
a  thousand  times  each  day. 

Harvey  came  each  noon — a  boy  you 
could  depend  upon.  And  each  day  Jim 
Grisby  came. 

Cecile,  Amy,  and  Bob  ate  in  the 
kitchen  now  to  save  steps  and  strength, 
and  one  noon,  after  Harvey  had  come 
and  gone,  Amy  swallowed  hard  and 
spoke.  "He's  fine,  Cecile,"  she  said, 
'  You  couldn't  do  better!" 

It  was  easy  to  cry,  and  Cecile  began. 
"You  know,"  she  whimpered,  when  she 
could  speak,  "just  after  you  came  home 
— you  said  he  would  be  like  Father,  and 
that — that  actually  made  me  wonder 
whether  I'd  marry  him,  and  now — it's 
all  I  ask,  all  I'd  ever  ask!" 

Bob,  very  gentle,  said,  "Well,  you 
see  it  was  so  different  here  for  Amy, 
Cecile;  she  couldn't  see  all  at  once." 

Amy  tried  to  answer,  but  she  couldn't. 
When  she  could  speak  she  turned  to 
Bob.  "How's  the  invention?"  she  asked. 

He  looked  surprised,  then  for  a  mo- 
ment his  eyes  kindled.  "Got  it,"  he 
said.    "I  know  it's  good.    Jim  says  so, 

JULY,  1944 


too.  I'd  be — why,  I'd  be  on  the  top  of 
the  world  if  it  weren't  for — "  and  he 
nodded  upward. 

"I  keep  thinking  of  how  he  used  to 
take  us  on  picnics,"  said  Cecile.  "Re- 
member?" 

They  nodded;  smiled  with  unsteady 
lips. 

"Sometimes  right  here  in  the  yard," 
said  Cecile,  "and  we'd  pack  up  as  if 
we  were  going  miles.  And  didn't  we 
love  it!" 

Bob  nodded  hard,  swallowed.  "Some- 
times, at  first,  at  Massachusetts  Tech, 
I  used  to  think — he  might  have — gone 
further.  Then  I  met  some  fellows  who 
didn't  care  at  all  about  anything  at 
home,  who  hardly  knew  their  people, 
and — well,  anyway,  I'm  glad  I  had 
sense  enough  early  to  realize — all  he 
was.  I — I  told  him  one  day" — he  had 
to  pause  a  moment — "I  told  him,"  he 
continued,  voice  rough,  "because  I  was 
ashamed  of  that  time  of — of  doubt 
about  him — and  he,  I  can  see  him  now, 
saying,  'Why,  Bob!  I'm  nothing,'  smil- 
ing, but  his  eyes  were  wet." 

Amy  rose  quickly  to  hurry  to  the 
pantry.  Cecile  was  sobbing.  Bob  strug- 
gled to  his  feet  to  stand,  back  to  them, 
before  a  window. 

"Anyway,  we  had  him,"  he  said, 
voice  rough,  without  turning.  Amy 
heard  it  in  the  pantry.  She  never  had 
had  him;  she  might  have  had,  but  she 
hadn't  accepted  him. 

J.HREE  weeks  passed  and 
Amy  stood  before  the  sink  washing  a 
tray.  She  had  told  her  father  that  morn- 
ing how  wonderful  he  was  and  how 
proud  she  was  of  him;  she  was  still 
shaky  from  it,  the  little  that  had  drawn 
them  so  closely  together  that  they  could 
never  again  be  divided. 

He  had  taken  her  hand  in  his.  "Amy," 
he  said,  "I  know  what  I've  lost — land, 
and  too  much  of  it,  and  a  good  income 
from  it.  But  I  couldn't  seem  to  do  bet- 
ter for  all  my  trying.  But  always  I 
knew,  too,  what  I'd  kept:  honor  and 
love  and  the  privilege  of  helping  my 
neighbor  and  a  roof  over  our  heads  and 
food — and  my  family!  My  fine  family! 
And  remembering  what  you  have  keeps 
you  in  tune  with  life  and  keeps  the  smile 
on  top.  And  maybe  I'm  wrong,  dear, 
but  I  don't  think  everyone  thinks  quite 
as  much  as  they  ought  to,  maybe,  about 
what  they  have!" 

One  of  her  tears  had  dropped  on  his 
hand.  "Why,  Amy,  dear  child!"  he 
broke  out. 

"It's — it's  all  right,"  she  faltered; 
"it's  only  that  I'm  awake,  living,  and — 
so  happy!" 

And  now  she  was  washing  a  tray 
and  remembering  that  small  scene;  and 
reflecting  that,  perhaps,  people  loving 
each  other  in  little  shabby  houses  all 
over  the  world,  and  saying  so,  made 
scenes  like  that— scenes  that  would 
never  be  snowed  under  in  the  magpie 
storage-house  of  mind  that  we  call 
memory.  It  was  wonderful  to  realize 
what  loving  could  do!    And  how  you 


could  give,  with  loving,  all  warmth  to 
another  heart.  She  would  never  fail 
her  fine,  her  successful  father  again! 

The  kitchen  door  opened  and  Jim 
Grisby  stepped  in  to  move  toward  the 
sink.  Rapping  had  gone  by;  everyone 
came  in  now  without  that  ceremony. 

"What  are  you  doing?"  he  asked. 

For  a  moment  she  smiled  up  at  him 
and  his  heart  turned  over.  "I'm  going 
to  take  mother's  breakfast  up  to  her  on 
a  tray  tomorrow  morning,"  she  said. 

He  said — a  trifle  thickly — that  he  was 
going  to  take  her  riding  at  two  that 
afternoon,  and  he  did.  She  hadn't  time 
to  make  herself  smart  and  she  didn't 
care  how  she  looked  so  long  as  Jim 
didn't  mind.  Silently  they  rode  the  way 
(Concluded  on  page  466) 


WAR 

Didn't  Change  It— 
Neither  will  PEACE! 

Before  the  war  we  made 
every  effort  to  show  our  ap- 
preciation for  the  privilege 
of  serving  you,  by  render- 
ing the  finest  service  we  pos- 
sibly could. 

During  the  war  we  are  striv- 
ing to  do  the  same  thing,  in 
spite  of  wartime  handicaps. 
After  the  war  we  shall  con- 
tinue to  give  meaning  to  our 
desire  to  serve  you,  by  main- 
taining the  highest  possible 
standards  of  courtesy  and 
efficiency. 


B^ 


UTAH  POWER  & 
LIGHT  CO. 

^*^       ^     465 


SOLUTION  TO  JUNE  PUZZLE 


Lw.v.ui^niwu'.  n  v»T,ga 


3. 


mprovement  Era 


*2)ubdcrih 


tfcnberd  .  .  . 

The  ERA  gives  you  much  of 
the  best  current  CHURCH 
LITERATURE.  Within  its  cov- 
ers you  find  each  month  au- 
thoritative material  written  or 
spoken  by  our  Church  leaders. 

Has  it  occurred  to  you  what 
priceless  gems  of  theology, 
poetry  and  down-to-earth  gos- 
pel you  have  in  the  year-by- 
year  volumes  of  this  maga- 
zine? 

Why  not  preserve  them  for 
your  future  reference  and  your 
children's  edification?  We  urge 
you  to  do  so. 

Single  volumes  (12  numbers)  bound 

in   durable,   attractive,   blue   cloth 

binding,    stamped    in    gold    $2.25 

each  plus  postage. 

Ten  or  more  volumes  at  one  time 
$2.00  each  plus  postage. 

Bring  them  in  or  mail  them  to  us 


fU 


~Jhe   *Jjederet   r/ewd  [-^re55 

29  Richards  Street.  Salt  Lake  City 
466 


SUCCESS  HOUSE 


(Concluded  from  page  465) 
they'd  followed  before  and  at  the  crest 
of  the  same  hill  Jim  brought  his  car  to  a 
standstill.  ■,.  r. 

"I  love  you,"  he  said,  and  this  time 
he  added,  "Will  you — will  you  marry 
me/ 

A  few  hours  later  Amy  was  in  the 
kitchen  with  her  mother,  who  was 
ecstatic  over  the  engagement  and  was 
planning  the  supper  which  Jim  was  to 
share. 

"Hot  biscuits,"  her  mother  said. 

Amy  dropped  her  head  to  her  moth- 
er's shoulder,  hugging  her  tightly.  Her 
mother  felt  her  nod,  heard  her  whis- 
pered, "Yes,  I'll  go  tell  them!" 

She  moved  toward  the  dining-room. 


Now  she  understood  what  came  of  sim- 
ple happiness  and  how  it  grew.  She'd 
put  the  Martha  Washington  geranium 
in  the  center  of  the  table— it  was  in 
flower  and  lovely.  And  later  her  father 
would  say,  "Now,  what  do  I  smell  bak- 

Wig/  ,-»     M      -  ;f,  , 

Her  father  smiled  on  her,  so  happy 
about  her  marrying  Jim.  And  Jim's  eyes 
were  more  than  happy;  they  were  wor- 
shipful, incredulous.  Instinctively  he 
moved  toward  Amy,  and,  putting  a 
hand  beneath  her  chin,  he  raised  her 
face  to  kiss  her.  Bob  sat  back  from  his 
drawing  board,  grinning. 

Amy  spoke  tremulously,  "Mother 
told  me  to  tell  you,"  she  said,  "that 
we're  going  to  have — hot  biscuits!" 


BISHOP:  WHAT  IS  YOUR  SENSE  OF  VALUES? 


(Concluded  from  page  428) 
The  following  poem  has  been  quoted 
but  it  probably  has  not  appeared  before 
in  print.  At  one  of  our  general  confer- 
ences, one  of  the  authorities  referred  to 
a  boy  as  being  like  a  zipper.  David  H. 
Elton,  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Church  and  at  the  time  mayor  of  Leth- 
bridge,  Canada,  caught  the  zipper  idea 
and  wrote  this  poem.  It  hits  the  nail  on 
the  head  in  this  philosophy  we  are 
stressing.  We  compliment  him  for  the 
genius  of  the  piece  and  its  soundness. 

Zippers  and  Boys 

The  zipper's  a  modern  contraption, 

Supplanting  the  "button"  and  "lace," 

We  now  bid  "good-bye"  to  the  "hook"  and 

the  "eye," 
The  zipper  has  taken  their  place. 
It  travels  on  delicate  meshes, 
And  fastens  quite  snugly  and  tight, 


If  you  wish  it  to  work,  don't  give  it  a  jerk, 
But  pull  it  through — smoothly  and  light. 

Now,  boys  are  just  somewhat  like  zippers — 
If  you  jerk  them,  they  get  off  the  track, 
And  you're  likely  to  find  you're  left  'way 

behind, 
And  cannot  move  forward  or  back. 
You're  stuck  with  a  mighty  hard  problem — 
You're  balked  and  stranded,  I  fear. 
For  it's  a  dead  cinch  you  can't  move  an  inch 
When  your  meshes  are  all  out  of  gear. 
If  you'll  just  treat  the  boys  like  a  zipper, 
And    start    them    out    right— they'll    come 

through, 
And  nine  times  out  of  ten  will  make  splendid 

men — 
Energetic,  efficient  and  true. 
But  thrust  them,  and  twist  them,  and  jerk 

them — 
Like  the  zipper,  they'll  slip  out  of  clutch, 
And  you've  stalled  that  dear  boy — your  hope 

and  your  joy — 
The  lad  that  you  valued  so  much! 

—  D.  H.  Elton 


» ■»  ■ 


EDITORIALS 


(Concluded  from  page  444) 

that  they  may  not  succumb  to  those 
things  which  would  rob  them  of  their 
courage;  for  a  good  part  of  vision  is  the 
quality  of  courage.  This  courage  means 
the  ability  to  stand  for  what  is  right  in 
spite  of  whatever  may  come. 

Like  the  Pioneers  of  1847,  many  of 
the  pioneers  of  1944  have  had  to  leave 
their  loved  ones;  they  have  had  to 
go  into  barren  places.    Unlike  the  Pio- 


neers of  '47,  they  cannot  withdraw  from 
a  world  inimical  to  their  ideals.  But, 
even  entering  an  alien  world,  they  are 
meeting  the  test  and  passing  it  with  high 
honors.  These  pioneers  of  1944  are  also 
maintaining  their  integrity- — and  so  long 
as  they  retain  their  vision,  they  will  re- 
ceive the  blessings  of  their  Eternal  Fa- 
ther, who  knows  their  trials  but  who 
also  knows  the  rewards  that  come  to 
those  who  hold  fast  to  the  truth. 

— M.  C.  /. 


HOW  CAN  I  QUIT  TOBACCO? 


(Continued  from  page  429) 
Cases  have  been  noted  of  persons  with 
no  particular  reason  to  stop  smoking, 
who  gave  it  up  because  no  one  among 
their  immediate  associates  used  tobacco, 
and  keeping  on  with  the  habit  seemed 
too  much  trouble. 

3.  Is  There  Anything  to  be  Done  in 
the  Way  of  Diet  That  Will 
Help  Me  With  This  Job? 

Every  person's  diet  is  more  or  less 


an  individual  thing.  He  has  certain 
foods  he  cannot  take  without  disturb- 
ance, as  well  as  others  which  he  dislikes. 
This  will  not  be  altered  by  his  campaign 
to  quit  tobacco.  However,  since  all  drug 
habits  are  closely  related  in  nature,  it  is 
most  important  that  tea,  coffee,  and 
especially  all  alcoholic  drinks  be  left  off 
at  the  same  time. 

With  some,  the  taking  of  small 
amounts  of  ice  cream,  milk  foods,  or 
other  fluid  nourishment  between  meals 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


HOW  CAN  I  QUIT  TOBACCO? 


may  prove  helpful  in  appeasing  the 
craving — especially  during  the  first  few 
weeks.  Candy  in  small  amounts  can 
also  be  helpful  here,  when  desire  for  a 
smoke  comes  on.  Chewing  gum  some- 
times gives  aid. 

Quite  important  for  most  individuals 
is  the  taking  of  an  increased  amount  of 
fluids  each  day.  This  helps  to  eliminate 
poisons  more  speedily  and  to  lessen  the 
craving  for  a  smoke.  Should  you  be  a 
victim  of  hay  fever  or  asthma,  it  is  per- 
haps not  wise  to  increase  your  fluid  in- 
take much.  However,  most  of  us  require 
for  good  health  and  proper  elimination 
of  poisons  a  total  of  about  eight  tum- 
blerfuls  of  liquid  in  each  twenty-four 
hours.  This  may  be  had  in  water,  milk, 
buttermilk,  lemonade,  ginger  ale,  orange 
juice,  and  other  harmless  soft  drinks,  not 
including  those  that  contain  caffein. 

Taking  of  vitamins  may  prove  help- 
ful, if  there  is  a  deficiency  in  this  di- 
rection; but  where  a  general  mixed  diet 
of  cereals,  whole  wheat  bread,  vegeta- 
bles, fruits,  and  milk,  and  a  moderate 
amount  of  meats  is  eaten,  the  vitamin 
balance  is  likely  to  be  satisfactory. 
Where  there  is  some  impairment  of 
health,  this  would  not  necessarily  hold 
true. 

The  question  of  use  of  laxatives  and 
purges  as  a  part  of  the  program  is  often 
referred  to.  Here  wisdom  should  be 
employed,  and  every  case  determined 
upon  its  merits.  If  there  is  not  any 
tendency  to  constipation,  or  if  it  is 
present  only  in  such  degree  as  is  easily 
controlled  by  adding  fruits  and  bulky 
foods  to  the  diet,  laxatives  should  be 
left  alone.  These  drugs  usually  contrib- 
ute to  the  cause  of  chronic  constipation, 
and  do  not  cure  it.  Where  such  a  prob- 
lem is  present,  the  advice  of  a  well 
trained  general  physician  is  most  im- 
portant to  the  overcoming  of  it. 

4.  What  Other  Things  Can  I  Do  to 
Increase  My  General  Physical 
Resistance?  , 

Bathe  your  body  daily,  if  this  is  pos- 
sible. Some  get  a  great  feeling  of  vital 
uplift  from  the  morning  cold  shower  or 
tub  bath.  For  others  this  seems  too 
severe.  Where  one  has  difficulty  in 
going  to  sleep,  soaking  in  a  hot  batn  for 
thirty  minutes  will  often  help  greatly. 

Spend  as  much  time  out-of-doors  as 
you  can.  One  hour  of  absorbing  vigor- 
ous play  each  day  will  do  a  great  deal 
to  favor  elimination  of  poisons,  as  well 
as  to  take  one's  mind  off  the  craving. 

5.  Is  There  Any  Drug  That  Can  be 
Used  to  Help  Me  Break  the 
Desire  for  a  Smoke? 

Many  things  have  been  used  for  this, 
at  one  time  and  another.  Some  of  them 
probably  are  of  more  or  less  aid,  but 
must  be  taken  under  a  physician's  guid- 
ance to  be  safe.  Perhaps  the  most  use- 
ful simple  thing  is  a  mouth  wash  of 
silver  nitrate  solution.  This  is  obtained 
at  the  drugstore,  and  should  contain 
three  grains  of  silver  nitrate  to  each 

JULY,  1944 


fluid  ounce  of  solution.  An  amount  of 
this  equal  to  one  or  two  teaspoonfuls  is 
taken  into  the  mouth  and  held  there  for 
thirty  seconds  or  such  a  matter,  then 
discarded,  without  swallowing  any  of  it. 
The  taste  is  undesirable,  and  if  used 
when  the  craving  becomes  troublesome 
it  may  be  of  considerable  help. 

6.  Since  the  Mental  Habit  Will  be 
My  Most  Difficult  Problem, 
What  Things  Can  I  Do  That 
Will  Help  Me  There? 

Each  individual's  natural  ingenuity 
may  suggest  little  things  which  will 
prove  beneficial  in  his  particular  cir- 
cumstances. There  are  certain  underly- 
ing principles  governing  the  conquest 
of  this  force,  among  which  are: 

(a)  Avoid  idleness  as  you  would  the 
plague.  This  one  thing  may  make  or 
break  your  effort.  An  idle  mind  is  bad 
company  for  such  a  job.  If  your  work 
requires  sitting  still  and  not  doing  much 
but  being  there,  carry  a  suitable  book- 
let in  your  pocket  and  crowd  the  min- 
utes with  thoughts  outside  yourself.  If 
this  is  not  permissible  because  of  the 
nature  of  your  duties,  you  may  mem- 
orize interesting  material  and  go  over  it 
during  those  minutes  between.  You  will 
be  surprised  at  how  much  you  may  ac- 
complish in  mental  advancement  and 
cultivation,  no  matter  where  you  may 
be. 

(b)  Avoid  idle  companions.  There 
is  no  need  to  hurt  or  offend  them.  One 
can  always  get  around  wounding  feel- 
ings, with  a  little  kindness  and  tact. 
When  you  are  faced  with  some  time 
that  would  ordinarily  be  spent  under 
such  conditions,  go  to  the  library  and 
get  acquainted  with  the  numerous  au- 
thors there  waiting  to  offer  you  inspira- 
tion, growth,  friendship,  or  entertain- 
ment. Take  your  companions  along  if 
they  will  go.  You  may  be  able  to  help 
them  unconsciously  begin  traveling  a 
different  and  more  interesting  road. 

(c)  Don't  go  to  the  moving  picture 
show  as  a  pastime,  unless  there  is  some 
particularly  good  picture  you  wish  to 
see.  The  average  movie  today  is  made 
a  powerful  medium  of  advertising  for 
both  liquor  and  tobacco,  and  will  in- 
crease the  difficulty  of  one  who  is  try- 
ing to  break  the  habit  of  using  either. 

In  this  the  radio  is  at  least  equally 
guilty,  and  you  will  do  well  to  select 
with  some  discretion  the  programs  you 
listen  to,  at  least  for  a  time.  Find  some- 
thing more  interesting  to  do — notably 
reading  of  good  books.  You  will  dis- 
cover that  much  has  passed  you  by  if 
you  have  not  been  reading.  No  one  who 
is  living  a  full  rounded  life  has  any  time 
to  kill. 

(d)  The  nervous  part  of  tobacco 
habitism  also  involves  what  might  be 
called  a  smoker's  neurosis.  His  habit  of 
holding  cigar,  cigaret,  or  pipe  becomes 
so  much  a  part  of  him  that  he  uncon- 
sciously goes  through  motions  of  flick- 

( Concluded  on  page  468 ) 


moke,  &8erreR. 


maki  it  GOOD  / 


So  Fresh 
So  Smooth 
So  Good 


"^■^ 


ONE    OF    DURKEE'S    FAMOUS     FOODS 
k.  SINCE    1  857 


THE  ADVERTISERS 

and  Where  You  Will  Find 

Their  Messages 

Beneficial   Life  Insurance  Co Back   Cover 

Bookcraft  Company .....Inside  Back  Cover 

Brigham  Young  University  . — - 468 

Continental  Oil   Company  — 460 

Daynes  Music  Company  458 

Deseret  Book  Company — 422 

Deseret  News  Press 466 

Durkee's   Mayonnaise - 467 

Durkee's  Troco  Oleomargarine — 451 

Faultless  Starch   422 

Fels-Naptha  Soap  &  Soap  Chips 424 

W.  P.  Fuller  Company 452.  463 

Hall's  Canker  Remedy  451 

Hillam  Costume  Shop 462 

K.  S.  L 417 

L.D.S.   Business  College  -462 

Levi  Strauss  Company 421 

Loma   Linda  Food  Company  461 

M.C.P.  Pectin  - Inside  Back  Cover 

Mrs.  J.  G.  McDonald's  Chocolates 420 

Morning  Milk  458 

Mountain  Fuel  Supply  Company — — 

Inside  Front  Cover 

Overland  Greyhound  Lines  463 

Porter-Scarpelli  Macaroni  Co ..451 

Purity  Biscuit  Company  419 

Rancho  Soup  _ 453 

Royal  Baking  Company „ 462 

Salt  Lake  Tribune  and  Telegram 470 

Sego  Milk  Products   Company _ 419 

Standard  Oil  Company  464 

Tea  Garden  Products  463 

Hotel  Temple  Square - 453 

Hotel  Utah 471 

Utah  Engraving — 462 

Utah  Home  Fire  Insurance  452 

Utah  Metal  Mining  Industry  of  Utah 469 

Utah  Oil  Refining  Company 421 

Utah  Power  6  Light  Company  „...465 

Wheeler,  Reynolds  &  Stauffer 461 


467 


Standard 

College 

Work... 


the  year  around 


at 


(JSriaham,  i/lc 


>f 


founa 


u, 


lit 


THE  SECOND  TERM 

of  the 

SUMMER  SCHOOL 
SESSION 

July  24— August  25 

offers  worth-while  edu- 
cational opportunities 
to  those  who  are  too  oc- 
cupied to  attend  college 
during  the  regular  aca- 
demic year. 

Write  for  current  catalogue  to  the 
President's  Office 

Brigham  Young 
University 

Provo,  Utah 


WHEREVER  THEY  GO 

Somewhere  in  Burma 
Dear  Editors: 

A  week  ago  I  received  last  year's  No- 
vember and  December  copies  of  the 
Era.  They  may  seem  old  issues  to 
you  at  home,  but  they  are  strictly  new 
ones  to  me  here  in  these  jungles. 

However,  the  point  of  newness  is  a 
minor  one.  Paramount  to  me  is  the 
touch  of  spirituality  they  both  contribute, 
especially  those  uplifting  conference 
messages  of  the  Church  leaders  in  the 
November's  pages.  My  thanks  to  them 
and  to  you  for  filling  a  gap  in  my  life 
in  this  remote  outpost  of  the  globe, 
which  otherwise  is  entirely  devoid  of 
Church  facilities  and  associates.  The 
Era  is  an  invaluable  bridge  linking  me 
with  the  Church. 


Sincerely  yours, 
Cpl.  Max  L.  Carruth 


HOW  CAN  I  QUIT  TOBACCO? 


(Concluded  from  page  467) 
ing  ash  or  of  placing  the  smoke  to  his 
mouth,  when  he  is  not  actually  smok- 
ing. These  are  habit  motions,  and  they 
themselves  will  often  remind  the  smoker 
to  light  a  cigaret,  when  he  really  does 
not  crave  its  effect  especially.  Such  oc- 
currences are  extremely  common  in  the 
presence  of  any  strain,  nervousness,  or 
uneasiness.  As  one  professional  man, 
long  a  smoker,  put  it:  "Whenever  the 
conversation  lags  or  you  do  not  know 
what  to  do  with  your  hands,  lighting  a 
cigaret  fills  the  bill."  Under  these  con- 
ditions, a  person  will  often  light  a  cigar- 
et, take  a  few  draws  upon  it,  then  ex- 
tinguish it,  only  to  light  another  in  ten 
to  twenty  minutes  and  repeat  the  same 
process. 

It  is  of  interest  that  these  habit  mo- 
tions do  not  occur  if  hands  and  lips  are 
otherwise  engaged  in  some  activity. 
This  in  a  measure  points  the  remedy. 
Keep  hands  and  lips  otherwise  em- 
ployed. Such  may  involve  chewing  of 
gum,  occupation  of  the  hands  in  carry- 
ing some  object,  as  a  pair  of  gloves, 
book,  walking  stick,  etc.  Each  person 
will  have,  more  or  less,  to  evolve  his 
solution  of  this  according  to  his  in- 
dividual circumstances  and  program. 

(e)  Although  it  sounds  more  than  a 
little  ridiculous,  it  is  none  the  less  true 
that  wearing  a  blindfold  when  smoking 
reduces  greatly  the  sense  of  satisfaction 
of  the  smoker.  Because  of  this,  such  a 
measure  has  proved  of  some  help  to 
those  having  a  difficult  time  to  break  the 
habit.  It  has  been  said  that  most  smok- 
ers who  go  blind  cease  to  smoke  be- 
cause the  trouble  of  doing  it  is  not  justi- 
fied by  what  they  receive. 

7.  Is  There  Any  Reason  to  Fear 
That  Stopping  Tobacco  Will 
Further  Damage  the  Health 


of  One  Who  is  Frail  from 
Other  Causes,  Such  as  a 
Bad  Heart? 

None  at  all.  What  one  is  doing  by 
stopping  the  tobacco  is  the  withdrawal 
of  a  poison  which  has  never  been 
known  to  bring  to  the  human  body  one 
single  benefit,  large  or  small,  and  which 
is  definitely  harmful  to  human  health  in 
many  demonstrable  ways.  When  a 
person  is  found  to  be  suffering  from 
chronic  arsenic  poisoning,  the  first  thing 
is  to  find  the  source  of  the  drug  and 
stop  it  from  getting  into  his  body.  The 
logic  and  results  are  the  same  in  both 
cases. 

8.  Why,  If  This  is  True,  Have  Some 
Physicians  Actually  Advised 
Their  Patients  to  Take  Up  Smok- 
ing? 

A  physician  is  only  a  human  being 
with  special  training  along  medicial 
lines.  Upon  the  basis  of  his  training  plus 
his  personal  opinion,  he  plans  and  car- 
ries out  the  treatment  of  his  patients. 
Should  his  knowledge  be  weak  in  some 
particular,  such  as  in  the  effects  of  nic- 
otine upon  the  human  body,  he  is  likely 
to  give  wrong  advice.  Little  if  any 
time  is  actually  given  to  study  of  this 
particular  subject  in  any  medical  col- 
lege in  the  land,  yet  there  is  ample  ma- 
terial available.  No  physician  with  full 
knowledge  of  just  what  nicotine  does 
to  the  blood  vessels,  heart,  and  nervous 
system  of  him  who  uses  it  ever  delib- 
erately advised  a  patient  for  whose  care 
he  was  responsible,  to  take  up  tobacco. 
In  addition,  every  smoker,  whether 
physician  or  mule  skinner,  loves  his 
smoke,  and  does  not  go  out  of  his  way 
to  learn  facts  which,  if  he  believed 
them,  would  only  serve  to  make  him  un- 
comfortable about  doing  what  he  likes. 


APOSTATE  FACTIONS 


(Continued  from  page  433) 
Sabbath    day,   and   other   topics   that 
seemed  entirely  useless  to  the  people  of 
his  community. 

In  keeping  with  the  spirit  of  the  law 
of  Moses,  his  new  publication  de- 
manded that  the  last  day  of  the  week 
was  the  Sabbath,  so  from  that  time  for- 
ward their  meetings  were  held  on  Satur- 
day and  all  their  religious  rituals  per- 
formed on  that  day. 

Tt  is  significant  that  this  arrogant  im- 
*  postor  was  not  content  to  be  called 
president,  elder  or  reverend.  He  in- 
sisted that  he  was  a  king  and  should  be 
addressed  and  revered  as  such  by  his 
disciples.  At  the  dedicatory  service  in 
the  tabernacle  he  had  a  disciple  ordain 
him  a  king  and  place  a  crown  upon  his 
head  and  present  him  with  a  royal  robe 
of  crimson  and  orange.  The  knight  who 
was  chosen  to  place  the  crown  upon  his 
head  was  George  J.  Adams,  of  whom  we 


468 


shall  speak  in  the  following  chapter. 
Thereafter,  he  was  known  as  King 
James,  and  everything  which  he  was  as- 
sociated with  was  called  "royal." 

It  is  interesting  to  know  that  this 
man,  whose  chief  lieutenants  later 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
organized Church,  taught  that  plural 
marriage  and  baptism  for  the  dead  were 
divine  principles  revealed  to  the  Proph- 
et Joseph  Smith  and  insisted  that  his 
subjects  obey  these  decrees  faithfully. 

He  performed  baptisms  for  the  dead 
in  a  small  lake  in  the  forest  and  set  the 
example  in  the  order  of  marriage  by 
taking  four  additional  wives. 

Mr.  Strang  often  boasted  that  the 
persecution  of  the  Twelve  and  their  fol- 
lowers was  proof  of  their  rejection  by 
the  Lord.  The  absence  of  persecution 
of  himself  and  disciples  he  interpreted 
as  an  evidence  of  divine  approval.  This 
was  well  answered  by  Reuben  Miller 
(Concluded  on  page  470) 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


jr 


HPHE  people  of  Utah  and  its  industries  have  lived  together 

*■■    many  years.    Together  we  have  weathered  many  storms 

.  .  .  together  we  shall  continue  to  work  for  the  State's  progress. 

We  should  strive  for  an  even  better  understanding  'which 

will  make  for  even  greater  progress  in  the  future. 

Are  most  people  aware  of  the  importance  of  the  mines, 
mills  and  smelters  that  have  been  built  in  Utah?  That  they 
employ  a  great  many  persons?  That  they  are  vital  factors 
in  the  social  and  economic  life  of  our  State? 

The  State  has  grown  and  her  people  have  prospered.  Un- 
derlying this  progress  has  been  harmonious  relationship  be- 
tween the  people  and  the  industries  of  our  State. 

With  a  better  understanding  of  problems  that  may  arise  in 
the  future,  progress  of  the  past  can  be  continued.  Mindful 
of  this  and  recognizing  the  desire  of  the  people  of  Utah  for 
knowledge,  we  want  you  to  know  more  about  the  metal  min- 
ing industry  of  Utah. 

"Miner    Mike"   will    tell   you    interesting    and    educational 


facts  about  the  mining  industry.  He  will  tell  them  in  "down 
to  earth"  terms,  and  occasionally  relate  stories  of  human 
interest  about  persons  and  incidents. 

"Miner  Mike's"  father  was  an  early  Utah  miner.  He  worked 
in  the  Emma  Silver  at  Alta,  where  ore  was  hauled  by  ox 
team  to  Ogden  for  shipment  to  Swansea,  Wales,  for  treatment. 
He  mined  at  the  Silver  Reef  in  Millard  County,  the  Horn 
Silver  in  Beaver  County,  and  panned  gold  in  Bingham  Can- 
yon before  the  camp  joined  the  ranks  of  the  large  copper, 
lead  and  zinc  producers.  His  father  also  mucked  in  the  old 
gold  camp  of  Camp  Floyd,  now  Mercur,  and  later  at  the 
Ontario  at  Park  City,  and  the  Apex  at  Bingham.  So  "Miner 
Mike"  is  steeped  in  mining  lore,  having  grown  up  with  the 
industry. 

Each  month  he  will  answer  interesting  questions  about 
mining  . . .  WATCH  FOR  HIM1 

His  first  message  to  the  people  of  Utah  is: 

"BUY  A  WAR  BONO  TODAY!" 


METAL  MINING  INDUSTRY  OF  UTAH 

Silver  King  Coalition  Mining  Co.  Chief  Consolidated  Mining  Co.  Tintic  Standard  Mining  Company 

Utah  Copper  Company  Ohio  Copper  Company  of  Utah  Park  Utah  Consolidated  Mines  Co. 

American  Smelting  <S  Refining  Co.  Combined  Metals  Reduction  Co.  International  Smelting  &  Refining  Co. 

United  States  Smelting  Refining  and  Mining  Company 


JULY,  1944 


469 


Destiny  Date 


Tuesday.  June  B.  1944,  joins  in 
history  other  dates  in  the  des- 
tiny of  America  and  a  free 
world.  It  is  a  day  which  re- 
calls other  dates:  April  6,  1917 
.  .  .  November  11.  1918  .  .  . 
December  7.  1941. 

Since  1871.  The  Salt  Lake 
Tribune  has  helped  record  his- 
tory in  the  making.  In  World 
War  II.  it  continues  this  serv- 
ice with  a  news  coverage 
equal  to  that  of  any  news- 
paper in  the  world.  The  com- 
plete facilities  of  Associated 
Press,  United  Press,  Interna- 
tional News  Service,  New  York 
Times  Foreign  Service.  Over- 
seas News  Service  all  are 
available  to  you  through  the 
columns     of     The     Salt    Lake 

Tribune. 

t 

The  Salt  Lake  Tribune  awaits 
history's  next  dates  of  destiny: 
The  end  of  war  with  Germany, 
the  end  of  war  with  Japan.  As 
those  days  approach,  your 
Salt  Lake  Tribune  continues 
its  complete,  accurate  presen- 
tation of  history  in  the  making. 


APOSTATE  FACTIONS 


^ 


1 


(Concluded  from  page  468) 
after  his  departure  from  Beaver  Island, 
in  these  bold  words : 

The  reason  is  that  he  has  not  enough 
priesthood  and  authority  and  the  spirit  of 
God  with  him  to  make  the  devil  mad.  He  is 
fanning  the  same  blaze  of  persecution 
against  the  Saints  that  have  moved  west, 
that  Tom  Sharp  and  the  mob  did  against 
Joseph  and  Hyrum.  Mr.  Strang  has  a  spirit 
of  revenge  and  a  perfect  hatred  against  all 
who  are  opposed  to  him  in  his  mad  career. 
He  is  not  only  unchristian  in  his  conduct, 
but  perfectly  abusive,  and  would  sacrifice 
the  innocent  and  unoffending  upon  the  altar 
of  public  opinion  to  the  Moloch  of  his  am- 
bition. He  is  in  possession  of  the  same  spirit 
that  crucified  the  Lord  of  glory,  and  the 
same  spirit  that  has  influenced  all  the  other 
apostates  since  the  first  organization  of  this 
Church,  and  the  same  spirit  that  put  the  dag- 
ger to  Joseph  and  Hyrum's  hearts.8 

George  A.  Smith  said  of  Strang  and 
others  like  him: 

After  the  death  of  Joseph  a  number  of  men 
appeared,  professing  to  be  revelators;  the 
most  noted  of  them,  I  believe,  was  James  J. 
Strang.  .  .  .  Charles  Thompson,  Gladden 
Bishop,  George  J.  Adams  and  others  arose 
until  prophets  for  awhile  were  at  a  discountl 
But  all  these  vanished  into  thin  air;  their 
names  were  forgotten  and  their  pretentions 
are  unknown,  unless  some  of  us  happen  to 
think  and  tell  of  them.4 

In  1847,  the  Qttincy  Whig,  though 
bitterly  prejudiced  against  all  Mormons, 
said  the  following  of  Mr.  Strang : 

In  view  of  all  these  matters  we  have  a 
prediction  to  make,  and  we  ask  the  readers 
to  mark  it — particularly  those  editors  who 
have  regarded  the  doings  of  the  people  of 

3Reuben    Miller,   James  J.   Strang,    Weighed   in   the 
Balance  of  Truth  and  Found  Wanting,  16 
^Journal  History,  January   10,   1858 


Hancock  with  such  a  holy  terror.  It  is  this — 
That  in  five  years'  time  the  Mormons  will 
be  driven  from  Wisconsin  root  and  branch! 
Mark  it!  We  do  not  claim  to  be  a  prophet 
or  a  son  of  a  prophet,  but  we  see  in  the  fool- 
hardy career  of  these  miserable  dupes  and 
knaves,  and  the  action  of  other  citizens  to- 
wards them,  an  inevitable  tendency  to  such 
a  result.6 

Within  nine  years  this  prediction  was 
fulfilled.  Two  of  Mr.  Strang's  disciples 
shot  him  on  June  16,  and  on  July  9, 
1856,  he  expired.  His  colony  died  al- 
most as  suddenly.  Within  a  short  time 
his  disciples  left  the  island  and  fled  to 
the  states  where  they  looked  for  some 
other  leaders  to  arise  and  hold  them  to- 
gether as  an  opposing  force  to  Brigham 
Young  and  the  pioneers  in  the  West. 

In  1936  there  were  four  branches  of 
the  Strangite  Church  with  a  member- 
ship of  123,"  who  regarded  him  as  the 
true  successor  of  Joseph  Smith.  There 
are  not  enough  members  in  any  one 
community  to  hold  regular  meetings  or 
maintain  an  organization.  No  president 
or  king  now  holds  the  kingly  office  Mr. 
Strang  had  assumed.''  No  animal  sacri- 
fices are  burned  on  their  altars,  such  as 
were  done  on  Beaver  Island;  no  priest 
receives  revelations  to  guide  them,  yet 
they  look  forward  to  the  return  of  the 
Lord  before  their  few  scattered  mem- 
bers pass  away.  They  eagerly  look  for- 
ward for  the  "one  mighty  and  strong" 
who  will  lead  them  before  the  second 
coming  of  the  Lord. 

(Next  Installment:  George  J.  Adams 

— A  Branch  Transplanted  to 

Palestine) 

*Quincy   Whig.   February  3.    1847 
eReligious  Bodies,  II,  Bureau  of  the  Census,  p.  836 
TQuaife's    book,   Kingdom  of  St.   James    (1930  ed., 
p.   182),   says  that  a  presiding  elder  was  ordained  in 
1923 — apparently  today  the  highest  office. 


THOU  HAST  MADE  US  TO  INCLINE  TO  THEE 


(Continued  from  page  427) 
in  the  book  of  Deuteronomy,  we  find 
the  following  eloquent  words : 

And  what  nation  is  there  so  great,  that 
hath  statutes  and  judgments  so  righteous  as 
all  this  law,  which  I  set  before  you  this  day? 

Only  take  heed  to  thyself,  and  keep  thy 
soul  diligently,  lest  thou  forget  the  things 
which  thine  eyes  have  seen,  and  lest  they 
depart  from  thy  heart  all  the  days  of  thy 
life:  but  teach  them  thy  sons,  and  thy  sons' 
sons.  (Deut.  4:8-9.) 

Drom  a  careful  reading  of  the  books 
■*-  of  Ezekiel,  Ezra,  and  Nehemiah, 
we  find  that  education  was  undertaken 
by  the  officers  of  the  government  in 
Palestine  upon  the  return  of  the  exiles 
from  Babylon.  Concerning  the  position 
of  women,  Mr.  Ismar  J.  Peritz  in  his 
article  entitled,  "Woman  in  the  Ancient 
Hebrew  Cult"  (Journal  of  Biblical  Lit- 
erature) ,  writes: 

The  Hebrews  in  the  earlier  periods  of  their 
history,  exhibit  no  tendency  to  discriminate 
between  man  and  woman  so  far  as  participa- 
tion in  religious  practices. 

Many  passages  reveal  the  love  and 
tenderness  in  which  wife  and  mother 


470 


were  held.  A  loving  wife  is  declared  to 
be  the  gift  of  God,  and  a  worthy  woman 
is  more  precious  than  rubies.  The  fol- 
lowing extract  from  the  Proverbs  con- 
tains the  most  complete  formulation  of 
the  ancient  Hebrew  ideal  of  woman- 
hood: 

Who  can  find  a  virtuous  woman? 
For  her  price  is  far  above  rubies. 

The  heart  of  her  husband  doth  safely  trust 

in  her, 
So  that  he  shall  have  no  need  of  spoil. 

She  will  do  him  good  and  not  evil 
All  the  days  of  her  life. 

She  seeketh  wool,  and  flax, 

And  worketh  willingly  with  her  hands. 

She  is  like  the  merchants'  ships; 
She  bringeth  her  food  from  afar. 

She  riseth  also  while  it  is  yet  night, 
And  giveth  meat  to  her  household, 
And  a  portion  to  her  maidens. 


She  layeth  her  hands  to  the  spindle, 
And  her  hands  hold  the  distaff. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


THOU  HAST  MADE  US  TO  INCLINE  TO  THEE 


She  stretcheth  out  her  hand  to  the  poor; 
Yea,  she  reacheth  forth  her  hands  to  the 
needy. 


Strength  and  honour  are  her  clothing; 
And  she  shall  rejoice  in  time  to  come. 

She  openeth  her  mouth  with  wisdom; 
And  in  her  tongue  is  the  law  of  kindness. 

She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  house- 
hold, 
And  eateth  not  the  bread  of  idleness. 


Her  children  arise  up,  and  call  her  blessed; 
Her  husband  also,  and  he  praiseth  her. 

Many  daughters  have  done  virtuously, 
But  thou  excellest  them  all. 

Favour  is  deceitful,  and  beauty  is  vain: 
But  a  woman  that  feareth  the  Lord,  she  shall 
be  praised. 

Give  her  of  the  fruit  of  her  hands; 
And  let  her  own  works  praise  her  in  the 
gates. 

(Proverbs  31:10-15,  19-20,  25-31.) 


THE  EDITOR'S  PAGE 

(Concluded  from  page  425)  Number  of  persons  identified  Decem- 

historic  Lion  House.   After  dinner  we  went  ber  31,  1943  71,212 

over  to  the  temple  and  did  temple  work.  We  Ordinances  recorded : 

believe  in  marriage  for  eternity  and  baptism  _q  __ 

for  the  dead,  by  the  living  acting  as  proxies  Baptisms  rneCs 

for  their  kindred  dead.  We  were  occupying  Endowments W.8/3 

three  different  rooms  in  the  temple,  having  Sealing,  wives  to  husbands 1 1,199 

sealings  for  eternity  performed  for  our  dead.  Sealing,  children  to  parents 41,565 

We  had   1,516  children  sealed  by   proxy  ,„■•„. 

to  their  parents  on  my  birthday.  Total  ordinances  172,510 

My  own  records   were  unbalanced  T   During  recent  years  I  miss  more  than 

like    those   of   most   members    of   the  I  can  tell  the  happy  family  association 

Church— the  women's  work  being  four  to  *he  £ourse  of  the  Lord    I  am  grateful 

thousand  ahead  of  the  men.  For  a  num-  fP  my  Father  in  heaven  that  the  way  has 

ber  of  years  I  have  only  employed  men,  been  opened  to  obtain  names  of  my  de- 

so  that  now  the  record  has  been  evened  Partfd  kin'  and  that  he  awakened  m  me 

up,  enabling  us  to  perform  the  neces-  th(;  desire  and  the  wlll£to  do  mymdxvid- 

sary  sealing  ordinances.  tahtoSl    tm^f9 

I  include  here  the  latest  report  of  *  uly^^kitVi  temple  work  abound 

Mrs.  Grace  R   Reynolds,  who  has  done  fa  th/heartsFof  the  Saints  and  may  the 

my  record  and  research  work  for  the  brethren  of  the  priesthood  realize  their 

last  twelve  years :  responsibility  and  take  full  advantage  of 

Family  groups  13,714  their  opportunity  to  participate  in  this 

Duplicate  of  pedigree  charts.. 232  most  important  mission. 

«  ♦  ■ 

EVIDENCES  AND  RECONCILIATIONS 


(Concluded  from  page  445) 
pelled  to  select  the  word  of  nearest 
meaning.  This  has  been  done  by  the 
translators  of  the  New  Testament,  but 
each  translator  has  used  his  own  judg- 
ment as  to  the  meaning  intended,  and, 
therefore,  the  translations  vary,  usually 
in  minor  matters. 

All  this  brings  to  our  attention  the 
danger  of  depending  on  one  text  in  the 
study  of  the  scriptures.  One  should  read 
the  context  carefully;  and  seek  out  other 
places  where  the  subject  in  hand  is  dis- 
cussed. Then,  the  true,  or  more  exact 
meaning,  may  be  seen  through  the  mist 
of  the  translator's  efforts.  And,  it  is 
equally  valuable  to  compare  various 
translations,  for  each  one  may  furnish 
some  clue  to  a  more  complete  under- 
standing of  the  original  meaning. 

In  the  case  of  the  New  Testament, 
the  difficulties  of  securing  a  dependable 
translation  are  many.  The  manuscripts 
in  our  possession  from  which  the  trans- 
lations must  be  made,  are  not  the  orig- 
inal ones— the  originals  are  long  since 
lost — but  probably  copies  of  copies  by 
hand,  before  the  coming  of  the  printing 
press.  Such  copies  contain  unavoidable 
errors,  missing  words  or  wrong  words, 
characteristic  of  hand  copying.  Besides, 

JULY,  1944 


copyists  had  the  opportunity,  and,  no 
doubt,  often  took  it  to  correct  the  text, 
thus  corrupt  it,  whenever  they  thought 
it  proper  to  do  so. 

All  these  and  other  difficulties  in- 
herent in  the  task  of  translation,  justify 
the  eighth  article  of  the  faith  of  the 
Church : 

We  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of 
God  as  far  as  it  is  translated  correctly. 

Joseph  Smith,  the  Prophet,  said: 

I  believe  the  Bible  as  it  read  when  it  came 
from  the  pen  of  the  original  writers.  Ignor- 
ant translators,  careless  transcribers,  or  de- 
signing and  corrupt  priests  have  committed 
many  errors.  ( Teachings,  p.  327. ) 

However,  despite  errors  that  may 
have  crept  into  it,  the  message  of  the 
Bible  is  consistent  from  beginning  to 
end.  It  teaches  the  way  to  life  and 
salvation.  It  remains  the  greatest  book 
on  earth.  Read  intelligently,  it  does  not 
deceive,  but  leads  men  into  the  light  of 
truth.  And,  the  King  James  translation 
has  not  yet  been  surpassed. 

(For  further  study  consult  Smythe, 
How  We  Got  Our  Bible;  and  James 
Gall,  An  Interpreting  Concordance  of 
the  New  Testament.)—].  A.  W. 


TO  SPEED 
OUR  BOYS 
HOME... 


mm       ■ — ^  ^-'    ™ 


Produce  and  Conserve — 

Share  and  Play  Square 

with  FOOD! 

T700D  IS  one  of  our  mightiest 
weapons  of  war.  Grow  your 
own,  help  on  farms  or  in  processing 
plants.  Buy  only  what  you  need, 
kill  black  markets  by  buying  only 
with  ration  stamps,  and  pay  no  more 
than  ceiling  prices.  When  eating  out, 
whether  in  our  popular  Coffee  Shop, 
or  in  the  Starlite  Gardens,  or  at  any 
restaurant,  help  share  America's  food 
supply  by  ordering  only  what  you 
can  eat,  and  eating  all  that  you  order. 

■A- 
FOOD— A  Vital  War  Weapon! 


4/1 


Your 


and  Ours 


^  tP8*!   rft-  Tfti  "**•  l6^  "^  Ifri  ~fo>  TS  fe  ^  TfiFi  fflfri  TWtin  Tl|fc,iffti  Hn  Bit,  lfllih_ifti(*infh  Wi  .HBIBii  ^ff?ti_ _"Bffffti  Tlh    I 


Salute  to  William  Mulder 

The  Era  wishes  to  congratulate  William  Mulder  on 
■*■  his  recent  appointment  as  an  ensign  in  the  United 
States  Navy.  The  Era  feels  keenly  the  departure  of  Wil- 
liam Mulder  who  has  given  invaluable  service  to  the  mag- 
azine. The  staff  wishes  him  Godspeed  and  a  quick  return. 


The  Raymond  Second  Ward  of  the  Taylor  Stake  has  one  of 
the  outstanding  records  in  the  Church  this  year.  This  ward 
turned  in  301  subscriptions,  which  is  nearly  400%  of  its  quota, 
and  also  this  ward  turned  in  six  more  subscriptions  than  the 
entire  Taylor  Stake  quota. 

Superintendent  John  L.  Allen  tells  us  that  Taylor  Stake  is 
a  double  citation  winner  this  year  largely  because  of  the  remark- 
able record  of  this  ward. 

Congratulations  to  Raymond  Second  Ward,  to  its  Era  work- 
ers, Mutual  officers  and  ward  bishopric,  and  all  others  who 
participated  in  the  campaign.  We  know  that  your  entire  ward 
must  have  been  united  behind  this  splendid  activity. 


-$- 


Dear  Editors: 


Somewhere  in  Africa 


Engaged,  as  many  of  us  are,  in  doing  our  bit  for  our  country, 
that  has  seen  fit  to  engage  our  services  to  help  bring  about 
peace  to  the  people  of  the  earth,  we  find  it  is  rather  difficult, 
especially  when  with  the  Army  Forces  in  a  foreign  land,  to 
keep  in  contact  with  the  teachings  that  mean  so  much  to  us 
as  Latter-day  Saints. 

It  is  for  this  reason  that  I  am  taking  this  opportunity  of  writ- 
ing you  to  express  in  a  few  words  just  how  much  it  means 
to  me  to  receive  each  issue  of  The  Improvement  Era.  I  look 
forward  with  great  pleasure  from  one  issue  to  the  next,  and  it 
is  certainly  invigorating  and  spiritually  uplifting  to  be  able  to, 
when  things  seem  dark,  and  hardships  almost  unsurmountable, 
take  one's  mind  away  from  his  troubles  to  relax  in  the  pleasant 
material  that  is  so  very  edifying  and,  by  so  doing  one  does 
not  feel  that  they  are  quite  so  far  away  from  home  and  all  that 
means  so  much  to  us  by  having,  at  hand,  the  articles  and  stories 
that  it  contains. 

Assuring  you  that  I  miss  the  pleasant  associations  of  the 
good  people  at  home  and  my  close  contact  with  the  Church  and 
all  that  it  stands  for,  I  remain, 

Sincerely, 

David  J.  Smith 


-<*>- 


Dear  Brethren: 


Cambridge,  Massachusetts 


I  have  known  and  enjoyed  the  Era  for  many  years;  my  people 
have  been  members  of  the  Church  for  several  generations, 
and  the  Era  has  always  impressed  me  as  one  of  the  foremost 
advantages  of  the  gospel.  I  want  to  attest,  also,  that  in  the 
mission  field,  we  elders  of  the  Church  find  that  the  Era  is  a 
wealth  of  aid  to  us  in  our  endeavors.  It  is  an  inspired  mission- 
ary means  of  telling  people  about  us  and  about  our  beliefs, 
explaining  by  example  the  precepts  of  the  restored  Church. 

Just  by  chance,  I  happened  to  be  riding  a  bus  the  other  day 
when  the  man  next  to  me  happened  to  remark  his  dislike  for 
tobacco  and  for  smoking  in  busses.  Here  in  Lowell,  there  is 
a  wholesale  disregard  for  "No  Smoking"  signs  in  the  public 
busses.  Across  the  aisle  from  us  a  pouchy  creature  was  vigor- 
ously puffing  at  a  cigar.  I  was  carrying  an  Era  with  me  at  the 
time,  and  J.  opened  it  to  the  "When  It's  'No  Smoking'  In  the 
Army"  article  by  Paul  O.  Morgan  in  the  February  1943  Era.  It 
certainly  hit  a  responsive  chord  with  the  man  next  to  me.  He 
wanted 'to  know  where  he  could  get  a  copy  of  the  article,  so  I 
gave  him  mine.  As  we  rode  on,  and  I  explained  to  him  how 
we  adhere  to  the  high  principles  that  Paul  mentions  in  his 
Epistle  to  the  Corinthians  (I  Cor.  6:19),  the  gentleman  got 
more  interested  than  ever.    Then  I  told  him,  prompted  by  the 


final  ideas  in  the  article  itself,  of  the  glorious  doctrines  of  the 
Church  in  connection  with  Matthew  5:14-16.  He  got  off  at 
the  next  stop,  reluctant  to  give  his  address  to  a  perfect  stranger 
but  eager  to  read  more  in  the  copy  of  the  Era  given  him.  I 
gave  him  my  personal  card  and  scribbled  the  address  of  the 
hall  where  we  hold  our  meetings  here.  .  .  . 

It  is  experiences  like  this  that  strengthen  my  testimony  that 
the  Era  truly  is  the  voice  of  the  Church.  I  am  thrilled  that  the 
Era  is  the  fine  magazine  it  is;  as  I  told  him  whom  I  met  in  the 
bus:  "The  Era  is  one  of  the  keys  to  the  gospel-door."  This 
is  an  original  thought  with  me,  and  it  expresses  my  sentiments 
completely. 

May  The  Improvement  Era  continue  in  its  wonderful  mission- 
ary work.  This  is  my  prayer  for  the  splendid  magazine  you  are 
supervising. 

Sincerely  your  brother, 

Elder  Willard  D.  Stephens 


-&■ 


There's  a  Difference 

Young  Harry:  "Father,  what's  the  difference  between  a  gun 
and  a  machine  gun?" 

Dad:  "There  is  a  big  difference.  It  is  just  as  if  I  spoke,  and 
then  your  mother  spoke." 

Difficult  Maneuver 

Small  Dorothy,  learning  to  dress  herself,  was  having  dif- 
ficulties. 

"Mom,"  she  said  exasperatedly  after  awhile,  "you'll  have  to 
button  this  dress  for  me  'cause  I  can't." 

"Why  can't  you?"  asked  Mom  calmly. 

'  'Cause — well,  'cause  the  buttons  is  behind  and  I'm  in  front." 

Ultimate 

A  farmer  visited  his  son's  college.  Watching  students  in  a 
chemistry  class,  he  was  told  they  were  looking  for  a  universal 
solvent. 

Farmer:    "What's  that?" 

Student:    "A  fluid  that  will  dissolve  anything." 

Farmer:  "That's  a  great  idea.  When  you  find  it,  what  are 
you  going  to  keep  it  in?" 

Technically  Correct 

Teacher:  "Who  can  name  a  liquid  that  will  not  freeze?  All 
right,  Freddy." 

Freddy:     "Hot  water." 

Natural  Query 

Aunt  Mary:  "You  must  eat  your  carrots,  dear.  Don't  you 
know  carrots  will  make  you  beautiful?" 

Small  niece  (after  observing  her  aunt  carefully) :  "Didn't 
they  have  carrots  when  you  were  a  little  girl,  Aunt  Mary?" 

Kind  Landlord 

"I'm  going  to  raise  your  rent" 
"That's  nice,  I  couldn't  raise  it." 

Road  to  Recovery 

The  "road  hog"  was  lying  semiconscious  in  a  hospital  after 
the  crash. 

Doctor:    "How  is  he  this  morning?" 

Nurse:    "Oh,  he  keeps  putting  out  his  hand." 

Doctor:    "Ah!    He's  turning  the  corner." 

Limited  Sweetness 

Member  of  ration  board:  "What's  your  complaint  on  your 
sugar  ration?"  .       > 

Farmer:  "Well,  I'm  trying  to  do  my  bit  patriotic-like,  but 
I'm  married,  have  eight  children  and  I'm  darned  if  I  can  ke,ep 
on  buying  all  that  sugar." 


472 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


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******** 


USE  THIS  RECIPE  for 
FRESH  BERRY  JAM 

6  Cups  Ground  Berries 
(Any  Variety) 

S  y2  Cups  Sugar 

1  Package  M.C.P.  Pectin 
Wash,  stem,  grind  3  qts.  fully 
ripe  berries,  or  crush  complete- 
ly so  each  berry  is  reduced  to 
pulp.  Measure  exactly  6  level 
cups  crushed  berries  (fill  out 
last  cup  -with  water  if  neces- 
sary), into  large  kettle.  Add 
M.C.P.  Pectin,  stir  well,  bring 
to  a  boil  stirring  constantly. 
NOW,  add  sugar  (previously 
measured),  mix  well,  bring  to 
a  full  rolling  boil.  BOIL  EX- 
ACTLY 4  MINUTES.  Remove 
from  fire,  let  boil  subside,  stir 
and  skim  by  turns  5  minutes. 
Pour  into  sterilized  jars,  allow- 
ing Yz  -inch  for  sealing  with 
fresh  paraffin.  (NOTE:  For 
•  Strawberry  Jam,  add  %  cup 
lemon  juice  to  each  6  cups 
crushed  berries.) 


SAVING  fruit  or  juke  and  sugar  is  a  very 
important  economy  in  making  energy- 
rich  jams  and  jellies  which  help  relieve  the 
wartime  shortage  of  other  rich  foods  such  as 
meat,  eggs,  butter,  etc.  Homemade  jams, 
especially,  are  excellent  spreads  which  save 
precious  "points"  and  are  far  more  economi- 
cal than  butter  or  margarine. 

With  M.C.P.  PECTIN  you  get  more 
glasses  of  jam  or  jelly  from  the  same  amount 
of  fruit  or  juice,  for  you  don't  "boil  away" 
these  costly  ingredients  . . ,  yet,  the  M.C.P. 
method  prevents  spoilage  due  to  too  short  a 
boil.  Tested,  easy-to-use  recipes  eliminate 
guesswork  .  .  .  save  you  time  and  work  . . . 
and,  because  M.C.P.  PECTIN  is  colorless, 
odorless,  and  tasteless  .  . .  you  are  always  as- 
sured clear,  tender,  fine-textured  jams  and 
jellies  of  pure,  natural  fruit  or  berry  flavor. 


■'if , 


**£***%*** 
*"?:**??.* 


SESSSr 


smm 


^ZTsr* 


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IP 


Ml 


-^»S-^L 


JELLS  MORE  FRUIT  OR  JUICE 
AND  SUGAR  THAN  ANY  OTHER 
PECTIN   YOU   CAN    BUY 


SAVE     FOOD-BUYWAR    BONDS 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA-  || 

RETURN,,  POSTAGE     GUARANTIEE/      ( 
SALT    LAKE    CITY,    UTAH     i* 


■■■■ 


i  HERALD  OF  A  NEW  DAY  .  .  . 

A  day  ,of  political  progress  ...  of  scientific 
achievement  ...  of  hope  for  new  goals. 

A  great  step  forward  is  the  development  of 
life  insurance,  whereby  provision  can  be 
made  for  one's  own  declining  years— or  for 
loved    ones    who    may    be    left    in    want. 


im 

^m\  ™t 


INSWKAII'61 


PAST 


Salt  Lake  City,  Utah